Description
Mughal Empire, Shah Jahan, Mughal Emperor 1628-1658 AD, Gold Mohur (10.93g) dated AHxxxx//2 (1629), struck at Surat mint. KM-255.6. Certified and Graded by PCGS as Mint State 65 (#38597729). From the Akola Hoard. Choice mint state, rare as such.
An exceptional coin with interesting history, the second finest grade of the PCGS population for the type. Recent 2021 auctions on coinarchives reveals one other of similar grade and visual quality was sold by Stephen Album Rare Coins, hammering for US$3000 – US$3600 with buyers, or AU$4800. Their example was certified and graded by PCGS as Mint State 64 and, although an extremely gem example with slightly better centring on the obverse, we feel that our piece is of finer style and fresher dies, creating slightly nicer surfaces with some finer detail in its strike.
Previously an unknown date and type, the year 2 mohurs of Surat mint were recently identified after the discovery of a gold coin hoard along river banks near the city of Akola, being named ‘the Akola Hoard’ accordingly. It’s said that this type, those struck in the second regnal year of Shah Jahan, were all lost en route to pay Mughal soldiers fighting at Golkonda. “As the story goes, the courier rested with the troops at night in the dry riverbed. Suddenly premature monsoon rains filled the area and swept away the caravan – and with it the whole gold mintage of the Surat mint for that year. Perhaps this tale was invented to conceal what really had happened, most likely either loss or theft or some other egregious activity.” (Stephen Album)