The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

326 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.Iskandar (1720-1749) onwards.There are three denominations,of these coins, the largest weighing about 146grains and the others a half and quarter that weight.These coins are known as the " "large," half," and"small" lari respectively (Mr. H. W. Codrington).Some of the later Sultans appear to have issued a stillsmaller denomination, one-eighth of a lari. The metalof the earlier coins is copper with a large admixture oftin, while the later pieces, with the exception of a fewsmall brass coins, are practically pure copper. Theearliest copper coin described in this paper bears thedate 1146 A.H., and we have a regular series from thatdate onwards. 30As is usual in Arab series, there is little variety in thetypes of these coins. The obverse bears the Sultan's name,which usually includes the name Iskandar (jj^.~>t), andthe reverse the Hijra date with the title >a~Jtj j-*H &\kL* twhich we have already found on the earliest silver coin.An exception to this type is formed by the small coinsof Muiz al-Din, the reverse legends of which givethe name of his father o-JJ^t >& o--*' &U*LJ\ ^>jl. Theexecution of these pieces is quite up to the average ofMuhammadan copper coins.The finest product of the Maldive mint, however, is thegold muhur of Hasan Nur al-Din (PL XX. 13), whichwill bear comparison with the best productsof theMughal die-engravers. I owe my knowledgeof thispiece to Dr. Codrington, who kindly gave me a Descriptionof it from a rubbing in his possession from a specimenin Ceylon. Since then Mr. H. Chapman has sent me30Mr. Bell mentions a coin of 1129 A.H. in his Beport, p. 121, note 2,but gives no particulars.