The sultanate of Gujarat was established in 1396, when Zafar Khan, the viceroy of the Delhi Sultanate in Gujarat, declared independence at a time when matters were in a state of confusion in Delhi. The kingdom lasted for almost 200 years, amidst the usual palace intrigues, and warfare with the neighbors such as Malwa and Mewar. In the first half of the 16th century, new actors appeared on the stage: the Portuguese and the Mughals. Humayun soundly defeated the Gujarat army in a year-long engagement, during which time Sher Shah took the opportunity to grow his power. Humayun was therefore forced to withdraw. Eventually, Gujarat was annexed to the Mughal empire by Akbar in 1583.       Qutb al-Din Ahmad Shah II (1451-1458) Qutb al-Din Ahmad Shah II (1451-1458) Silver tanka, AH 862 Weight: 9.42 gm., Diameter: 17 mm., Die axis: 8 o'clock Legend: qutb al-dunya wa'l din ahmad shah al-sultan / Legend: al-khalifa amir al-mu'minin khulidat khilafatahu,      date above last line: (AH) 862 (= 1457-58 CE) Ref: Goron-Goenka G58 Nasir al-din Mahmud Shah I (1458-1511) Nasir al-din Mahmud Shah I (1458-1511): Silver 1/2 tanka, Mustafabad, AH 905 Weight: 4.24 gm., Diameter: 13 mm., Die axis: 4 o'clock Legend: nasir al-dunya wa'l din abu'l fath, along with AH date 905 (= 1499-1500 CE) / Legend within square: mahmud shah al-sultan Ref: Goron-Goenka G87, Raj 2218 Nasir al-din Mahmud Shah I (1458-1511): Silver 1/8 tanka, Mustafabad, AH 894 Weight: 1.23 gm., Diameter: 11 mm., Die axis: 2 o'clock Legend: al-sultan al-azam nasir al-dunya wa'l din abu'l fath / Legend: mahmud shah al-sultan Ref: Goron-Goenka G90 Nasir al-din Mahmud Shah I (1458-1511): Silver 1/4 tanka, Mustafabad Weight: 2.86 gm., Diameter: 13 mm., Die axis: 4 o'clock Legend: al-sultan al-azam nasir al-dunya wa'l din abu'l fath / Legend: mahmud shah al-sultan Ref: Goron-Goenka G98/88 The early coins of Nasir al-din Mahmud were based on a half tanka of around 4.3 gm, but in 905 AH the weight standard apparently changed to around 5.7 gm. At the same time, the style of the legends was changed drastically. This coin, weighing 2.86 gm, is clearly a quarter tanka of the heavier weight standard. The style of the obverse legend also matches that of the heavier weight standard coins, such as G98. However, the style of the reverse legend is firmly that of the low weight standard coins such as G88. Thus this coin might mark a transition to the higher weight standard where some older dies continued to be used, or an unintentional mule. Either way, an interesting coin! Nasir al-din Mahmud Shah I (1458-1511): Silver heavy tanka, Muhammadabad Weight: 10.75 gm., Diameter: 20-21 mm., Die axis: 3 o'clock Legend, within a double ruled circular border with dots in between / Legend, within double ruled square border Ref: Goron-Goenka G127 A beautiful example of a tanka struck to the heavy weight standard .. it must have been struck during the period AH 909-917 (= 1503-1511 CE) Nasir al-din Mahmud Shah I (1458-1511): Silver heavy tanka, Muhammadabad Weight: 10.46 gm., Diameter: 21 mm., Die axis: 8 o'clock Legend, within a double ruled circular border with dots in between / Legend, within double ruled square border Ref: Goron-Goenka G127 Another beautiful example of a tanka struck to the heavy weight standard, struck during the period AH 909-917 (= 1503-1511 CE). This is the plate coin of Goron and Goenka G127. Nasir al-din Mahmud Shah I (1458-1511): Silver half tanka, Muhammadabad Weight: 5.26 gm., Diameter: 16 mm., Die axis: 2 o'clock Legend, within a double ruled circular border / Legend, within double ruled square border Ref: Goron-Goenka G128 The half tankas are much scarcer than the full tankas. Shams al-din Muzaffar Shah II (1511-1525) Shams al-din Muzaffar Shah II (1511-1525): Silver tanka Weight: 7.13 gm., Diameter: 18 mm., Die axis: 9 o'clock Legend/ Legend within peaked square Ref: Goron-Goenka G242 Shams al-din Muzaffar Shah II (1511-1525): Silver tanka Weight: 7.13 gm., Diameter: 19 mm., Die axis: 7 o'clock Legend/ Legend within peaked square Ref: Goron-Goenka G242 Shams al-din Muzaffar Shah II (1511-1525): Silver tanka Weight: 7.09 gm., Diameter: 17 mm., Die axis: 2 o'clock Legend/ Legend within peaked square Ref: Goron-Goenka G259 Shams al-din Muzaffar Shah II (1511-1525): Silver tanka Weight: 7.14 gm., Diameter: 17 mm., Die axis: 3 o'clock Legend/ Legend, within plain square border Ref: Goron-Goenka G262 Qutb al-din Bahadur Shah (1526-37) Qutb al-din Bahadur Shah (1526-37): Silver 1/2 tanka Weight: 1.79 gm., Diameter: 10-11 mm., Die axis: 12 o'clock Legend/ Legend: bahadur shah bin muzaffar shah al-sultan Ref: Goron-Goenka G352 var The reverse of this coin matches G352, but the obverse is completely different. It may be an unpublished variety or some sort of imitation type. Nasir al-din Mahmud Shah III (1537-1553) Nasir al-din Mahmud Shah III (1537-1553): Silver 1/2 tanka Weight: 3.46 gm., Diameter: 13 mm., Die axis: 4 o'clock Legend/ Legend Ref: Goron-Goenka G419 A very unusual coin, in that the size matches the quarter tanka, but the weight is that of a half tanka. The only date shown for the half tanka by Goron and Goenka is AH 942, which they think should be 961, the only date known for the quarter tanka.

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