Muiz ud-Din Qaiqabad Delhi Sultanate Slave/Mamluk Dynasty Silver 1 Tanka Hadrat Delhi Mint

Delhi Sultanate (Slave/Mamluk), Muiz ud-Din Qaiqabad, (AH 686-689/1287-1290 CE), Denomination: 1 Tanka, Composition: Silver, Hadrat Delhi Mint, Weight: 10.61 grams, Diameter: 29.97 mm, Reference: GG #D178, About Very Fine, + Scarce.

Obverse: “Al-sultan al-a‘zam mu’izz al-dunya wa’l-din abu’l muzaffar Kaiqubad al-sultan” — Title and name of the Sultan in elegant Arabic legend.

Reverse: “Al imamul mustasim Amirul momineen” Religious honorific invoking leadership and faith.

Muiz ud-Din Qaiqabad, the last effective ruler of the Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty, ascended the throne of the Delhi Sultanate at a very young age. His reign (AH 686–689 / 1287–1290 CE) marked a period of internal instability, court intrigue, and weakening central authority. Though a descendant of Balban’s line, Qaiqabad lacked the administrative discipline of his grandfather, allowing nobles and courtiers to dominate governance. The political vacuum created during his short rule directly contributed to the rise of Jalal ud-Din Khalji and the eventual end of Mamluk dominance in Delhi. Despite limited personal achievements, Qaiqabad’s reign is historically important as a transitional phase between two major dynasties. From a numismatic perspective, Qaiqabad’s silver Tanka reflects the continuing monetary traditions of the Delhi Sultanate. The coin carries grand Arabic titulature on the obverse, emphasizing royal legitimacy, while the reverse invokes religious authority through the Abbasid Caliph’s name. Well-struck on a broad flan, this issue represents both political symbolism and the high silver standard of late Slave-period coinage, making it a historically significant and collectible piece.