Muhammad bin Tughlug Delhi Sultanate Billon Tanka Ahmed Type

Delhi Sultanate, Tughluqs dynasty, Muhammad bin Tughlug (AH 725-752/1325-1351 CE), Composition: Billon, Denomination: 1 Tanka, Weight: 8.89 grams, Diameter: 17.23 mm, Reference: G&G# D450, Coins struck in the names of the abbasid caliphs within quatrefoil; Caliph’s titles spread over both the sides, ahmad at the top, extremely fine, Scarce.

Muhammad bin Tughluq (r. 1325–1351 CE) of the Tughluq dynasty remains one of the most intellectually gifted yet controversial rulers of the Delhi Sultanate. A highly educated and ambitious monarch, he attempted several bold administrative and economic reforms. However, many of his policies failed due to poor execution and lack of public support, earning him the popular epithet of the “Mad Sultan.” His most famous experiment was the introduction of token currency, where copper and brass coins were issued with the same face value as gold and silver, leading to widespread forgery and economic chaos. He also temporarily halted gold coinage, further destabilizing trade and revenue.

The billon Tanka of this reign reflects strong Abbasid influence, being struck in the names of Abbasid caliphs within a quatrefoil design. The caliph’s titles appear on both sides, with “Ahmad” at the top, emphasizing religious legitimacy over royal identity. Such coins are historically significant, scarce, and represent a unique ideological phase in Indo-Islamic numismatics.