About Very Fine, Unique so far & a Historically Important Coin.

In section 10 of the Ain-i Akbari, Abul Fazal Allami, the chronicler of Akbar's reign gives a comprehensive list of coins under the title “The Coins of the Glorious Empire”. In sub-section 2, which deals with 'silver coins', we find the following information regarding the nomenclature of the coins: (a). The Rupee is round, and weighs eleven and one half máshahs. It was first introduced in the time of Shér Khán. It was perfected during this reign, and received a new stamp, on one side 'Alláhuakbar, JallaJaláluhu', and on the other the date. (b). The Jalálah is of a square form, which was introduced during the present reign. In value and stamp it is the same as (a) (c). The Darb is half a Jalálah. (d). The Charn is a quarter Jalálah. (e). The Pandau is a fifth of the Jalálah. (f). The Asht is the eighth part of the Jalálah. (g). The Dasá is one-tenth of the Jalálah. (h). The Kalá is the sixteenth part of the Jalálah. (i). The Súkí is one-twentieth of the Jalálah. The same fractional parts are adopted for the [round] Rupee, which are however different in form.” It is evident that barring the first name, that of the rupee, the others are derived from the Indian tradition. The name of the quarter rupee derives from चरण, the Sanskrit word to mean 'one fourth'.