A Catalog of Modern Coins of Afghanistan by Persic Gallery

A CATALOG OF MODERN Coins of Afghanistan

Series I: Abdul Rahman Khan

By: Hakim Hamidi & Masoud Hamidi Second Edition

C o p y r i g h t © 2 0 1 2 , P e r s i c G a l l e r y, I n c . A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . P e r s i c G a l l e r y P. O . B o x 1 3 0 3 7 2 - B o s t o n - M A 0 2 11 3 • w w w. p e r s i c g a l l e r y. c o m

Table of Contents Abdul Rahman Khan

Gold Coins

Silver Coins

Copper, Brass & Bronze Coins

C o p y r i g h t © 2 0 1 2 , P e r s i c G a l l e r y, I n c . A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . P e r s i c G a l l e r y - P. O . B o x 1 3 0 3 7 2 - B o s t o n - M A 0 2 11 3 • w w w. p e r s i c g a l l e r y. c o m

Abdul Rahman Khan

Abdul Rahman Khan 1297-1319 / 1880-1901 Amir Abdul Rahman Khan with an impressive personality ruled Afghanistan (1880-1901). The country was restless and numerous engagements were launched all over the country to show their disapproval of the British presence. The British on their part desperately searched for a leader acceptable to all. It was then that Abdul Rahman rode into Afghanistan from eleven years of exile in Samarkand as a guest of the Russian Government. His talents as a strong energetic tribal leader were well known for he had fought successfully to place his father, Amir Mohammad Afzal, an elder half-brother of Amir Sher Ali, on the throne in 1866. Even when his father died a year later, Abdul Rahman continued to serve the new Amir, his uncle, Mohammad Azam, until defeat at the hands of Amir Sher Ali forced him into exile in Russia in 1868. Sensing a propitious moment to bid for the throne, Abdul Rahman crossed over the border into Badakhshan, gathering forces as he moved south from Kishm to Charikar where, on July 20th, 1880, a tribal council proclaimed him Amir of Kabul. On August 11th, the British formally handed over to him the Kingdom of Kabul and withdrew to India. British composure at Kabul was severely shattered, however, by distressing news from Kandahar. On July 27th an entire British brigade had been outfought on the plains of Maiwand in one of the most crushing defeats ever suffered by a British army. The mortifying blow had been inflicted by Sardar Ayub Khan, son of Amir Sher Ali and full brother of Amir Yaqub Khan, who had declared himself Amir at Herat after hearing of his brother's abdication. Following up his victory at Maiwand, Ayub Khan invested Kandahar. In seeking arrangements which would secure for Britain if not a pro-British at least not an anti-British buffer against Russia, British policy makers contemplated giving Herat to Persia and establishing Kandahar as an independent state under another Sadozai puppet. Fortunately, these proposals were vetoed and the last British troops on Afghan soil marched from Kandahar in April, 1881.Amir Abdul Rahman in Kabul was left to become master of his own state. He faced monumental problems of divisiveness as he candidly admits in his autobiography." . . . when I first succeeded to the throne of Kabul my life was not a bed of roses. Here began my first severe fight against my own relations, my own subjects, my own people." Rebellions began immediately and continued to erupt to the east in the Kunar, in the north around Maimana, and in the central mountains of the Hazarajat. The Ghilzai uprising alone took two years to subdue. The Amir C o p y r i g h t ÂŠ 2 0 1 2 , P e r s i c G a l l e r y, I n c . A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . P e r s i c G a l l e r y - P. O . B o x 1 3 0 3 7 2 - B o s t o n - M A 0 2 11 3 â&#x20AC;˘ w w w. p e r s i c g a l l e r y. c o m

Abdul Rahman Khan defeated his tribal opponents on the battlefield and then, in order to insure their fealty, resettled many of the leaders in areas far from their homelands thereby cleverly exploiting age-old traditional tribal rivalries. As he rightly surmised, the Pushtun tribesmen would fight for him, a fellow Pashtun, before they would join with the Uzbaks. In this way he created a loyal force of his enemies. In addition to the tribal wars the sorely beset Amir had more-over to fight one cousin, Sardar Ayub Khan, for Kandahar and Herat (1881) and another cousin, Mohammad Is'hak for the North (1888). Finally, in 1895 when all was relatively quiescent, he moved to conquer and convert the Kafirs, "Infidels," a warlike people living in the eastern mountains to the north of Jalalabad. The Kafirs had at one time impressed Alexander the Great who in-vited their young men to accompany him on his campaign to India. Later they had withstood the iconoclastic advances of Arab and Ghaznavid armies. They had even bested the august Tamer-lane, but now at last they submitted and the Amir decreed that henceforth their land was to be known as Nuristan, Land of Light. While the Amir proceeded thus to establish his rule supreme within his own domains, foreigners hemmed him in with bound-aries: a joint Russian-British Boundary Commission settled the northern boundary in 1887; the unpopular western boundary demarcated during the reign of Amir Sher Ali, was renegotiated in 1888; the British drew the equally unpopular Durand Line in 1893 to separate Afghanistan from their Indian Empire. Mutual mistrust, especially after March, 1885 when Russian troops took the Afghan fort of Panjdeh north of Herat, led to the acceptance of Afghanistan as a buffer state. For strength and protection against further Russian advances the Amir also accepted subsidies from the British in return for which they continued to control his foreign affairs. The Amir insisted, however, on preserving the independence of Afghanistan by maintaining absolute control over internal affairs. Though the British resented the Amir's policy of isolation and bombarded him with proposals regarding advisĂ§rs, telegraphs and railroads, commercial treaties and diplomatic missions, the Amir proved adamant, preferring to develop his country on his own. He built small forts along all major caravan routes to make one hazardous travel safe, and trade flourished. He introduced factories, schools and hospitals for which he did hire, on his own several British technicians and a doctor, but only a select few. At the capital he built a new citadel to replace the palaces in the Bal~ Hissar, a heap of rubble since the days of the British occupation their vengeful "lesson" to Kabul.

C o p y r i g h t ÂŠ 2 0 1 2 , P e r s i c G a l l e r y, I n c . A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . P e r s i c G a l l e r y - P. O . B o x 1 3 0 3 7 2 - B o s t o n - M A 0 2 11 3 â&#x20AC;˘ w w w. p e r s i c g a l l e r y. c o m

Abdul Rahman Khan Gold Coins

H1c: 1 Tilla in Toughra-i-Korasonee Obv- “Amir Abdul Rahman”, "Zia ul-Melete-wataan" in

H1a: 1 Tilla in Toughra

center. Date in loop of toughra, 5 stars at top. Obv-! "Allah-o-Akbar" at top. Legend in center. Amir Rev-! Mihrab in center, a small star above. Crossed sa-

Adul Rahman, wreath of wheat around.

bres below, wreath of wheat around. Date below Rev-! "Yak mesqal" (one mesqal) at left. Mihrab and !

the crossed sabres.

Monber in center. Date below, Kabul at right. ! !

HQ1314 & HQ1316, 4.6gm, 21.1mm. KM-821

HQ1313, 4.6g. KM-815

H1d: 1 Tilla, HQ1309 H1b: 1 Tilla in Toughra-Korasonee

Obv-! Legend above mosque.

Obv-! “Amir Abdul Rahman”, "Zia ul-Melete-wataan" in

Rev-! “Allah-o-Akbar” at top. 4.6gm, 22mm, KM-807.

center. Date in loop of toughra, 5 stars at top. Rev-! Mihrab in center, a small star above. Crossed can non sabres and rifles below, wreath of wheat around. !

HQ1316 ~ HQ1317, 4.6g, 21.2mm. KM-822 H2: 2 Tilla, 20 Kabulli Rupee, HQ1209

Abdul Rahman Khan Silver Coins

Rev-! A star above. Mosque in center. Crossed rifles, flags,

swords,

and

cannons

below

mosque.

“Sanad” (certified) underneath crossed rifles. All within wheat and wreaths. !

HQ1316, 45.6gm, 39mm. KM-826

H3a: AR 5 Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee Obv-! Name and title of Amir “Zia ul-Melelte-wadeen” in H4a: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

center. 3 Stars at top; wheat wreath around. Date is indicated in loop of Toughra. “Sanad”, at right of

Obv-! Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”. Star

toughra.

above king’s name within toughra. Wheat wreath around.

Rev-! Mihrab and Monber in center; wheat wreath around; “Da Mesqhal” below Mihrab. 3 stars at

Rev-! Mosque in center; Kabul and date underneath; a

top. !

star above; wheat wreath around.

HQ1314, 46.0gm, 39mm. KM-820

HQ1308 ~ HQ1313, 9.2gm, 23.5mm. KM-806.1

H3b: AR 5 Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee Obv-! Name and title of Amir in center. A star above. “Punj-rupya Kabuli” (Five Kabuli Rupees) below. Wheat of Wreaths around. Date in the loop of toughra.

Abdul Rahman Khan

H4b: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

H4d: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

Obv-! Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”. Star

Obv-! Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”. Wheat

above king’s name within toughra. Wheat wreath

wreath around. “zia ul-Melete-wadeen” inscription

around.

below toughra. Rev-! Mosque in center; Kabul to right and date underneath the mosque; a star above; wheat wreath

Rev-! Mosque in center; Kabul and date underneath; a

around.

star above; wheat wreath around. A new die was recut and “O” after “3” of date was kept. !

HQ1313, 9.2gm, 24mm. KM-813

HQ1310 ~ HQ1313, 9.2gm, 23.5mm. KM-806

H4e: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee Obv-! Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title below. Small doted circle above. Du misqal above.

H4c: AR Rupee in Toughra Obv-! Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”. Star !

Rev-! Mosque in center; “yak rupya Kabuli” underneath

above king’s name within toughra. Wheat wreath

mosque. Date in lower left of mosque; wheat

around, date below.

wreath around. !

Rev-! Mosque in center; Kabul and date underneath; a

HQ1314, 9.2gm, 24mm. KM818

star above; wheat wreath around. !

HQ1312 & HQ1313, 9.2gm, 23.5mm. KM-814

Abdul Rahman Khan

H4h: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

H4f: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title be-

Obv-! Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title be-

low. Kabul above king’s name. Divided date to

low. Kabul above king’s name. Undivided date

each side, “13” at left and “16” at right of toughra;

below title; wheat wreaths around.

wheat wreaths around.

Rev-! Mosque at top; crossed cannon and swords below

Rev- Mosque at top; crossed cannon and swords below

toughra. “yak rupya” underneath crossed cannon,

wheat wreaths around. Smaller flan (24.5mm). !

wheat wreaths around.

HQ1315, HQ1316, 9.2gm, 24.5mm. KM-819.1

HQ1316, 9.2gm, 25mm. KM-819.2

H4g: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

H4i: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title be-

low. Kabul above king’s name. Undivided date

low. Kabul above king’s name. Date to the right of

below title; wheat wreath around.

toughra; wheat wreaths around.

Rev- Mosque at top; crossed cannon and swords below

toughra. “yak rupya” underneath crossed cannon,

wheat wreaths around. Large flan (25.2mm).

wheat wreaths around.

HQ1315, 9.3gm, 25.2mm. KM-819.1a

HQ1317, 9.2gm, 25mm. KM-891.3

Abdul Rahman Khan

H4j: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

H4L: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”. 3 stars

Obv-! Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title be-

above king’s name. Title and date (in loop of

low in toughra. A small star above king’s. Date

toughra); wheat wreaths around.

slanted to the right of toughra; wheat wreaths around.

Rev- Mosque at top; crossed cannon and swords below Rev-! Mosque at top; crossed cannon and swords below

toughra. “yak rupya” underneath crossed cannon,

wheat wreaths around. !

wheat wreaths around. HQ1317, 9.2gm, 25mm. KM-829 !

H4m: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

H4k: AR Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title be-

Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title below. Kabul above king’s name. Date split between

low in toughra. A large above king’s. Date slanted

toughra; wheat wreaths around.

to the right of toughra; wheat wreaths around. Rev- Mosque at top; crossed cannon and swords below

Rev- Mosque at top; crossed cannon and swords below

HQ1318, 9.2gm, 25mm. KM-830

toughra. “yak rupya” underneath crossed cannon,

wheat wreaths around.

wheat wreaths around. !

HQ1315 & HQ1317, 9.2gm, 25mm. KM-819.4

HQ1318, 9.2gm, 26mm (Larger dome)

Abdul Rahman Khan

H5b: AR 1/2 Rupee Toughra H4n: AR Rupee

Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”. Star above king’s name within toughra. Wheat wreath

Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”. Date HQ

around.

1304 to the bottom left of the legend.

Rev-! Mosque in center; Kabul and date underneath; a

Rev- “al saltanah zarb Kabul” inscription; date HQ1303 at

star above; wheat wreath around. A new die was

top left. !

recut and “0” after “3” of date was kept.

HQ1303, KM-805. The rupee was minted in Birming-

ham.

H5c: AR 1/2 Rupee in Toughra

H5a: AR 1/2 Rupee in Toughra

Obv-! Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman” in

Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”. Star

toughra. Date above king’s name, wheat wreaths

above king’s name within toughra. Wheat wreath

around.

Rev-! Mosque in center, Kabul above. Value “neem ru-

Rev-! Mosque in center; Kabul and date underneath; a

pya” below mosque, wheat wreaths around.

star above; wheat wreath around. !

HQ1310, 4.65gm, 18mm. KM-804.2

HQ1308, 4.6gm, 26mm. KM-804.1

HQ1313, 4.65gm, 18.5mm. KM-812

Abdul Rahman Khan

H5d: AR 1/2 Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

H5f: AR 1/2 Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

Obv-! Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman” in

Obv-! Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title be-

toughra, a star above. Date slanted at right of

low. Kabul above king’s name. Date engraved at at

toughra, wheat wreaths around.

right of toughra; wheat wreaths around.

Rev-! Mosque in center, Kabul above. Value “yak

Rev-! Mosque at top; crossed cannon and swords below

mesqhal” at top, wheat wreaths around. !

toughra. “neem rupya” underneath crossed cannon, wheat wreaths around.

HQ1314, 4.65gm, 18.5mm !

HQ1317, 4.65gm, 18.5mm

H5e: AR 1/2 Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee H5g: AR 1/2 Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee

Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title below. Kabul above king’s name. Divided date

Obv-! A star above, name and title of Amir in center. Date

HQ1316 to each side, “13” at left and “16” at right

slanted right of tourghra. wheat wreaths around.

of toughra; wheat wreaths around. Rev-! A small star at top. Mosque in center; crossed saRev- Mosque at top; crossed cannon and swords below

bre, and cannon below, what wreaths around.

toughra. “neem rupya” underneath crossed can!

non, wheat wreaths around. !

HQ 1318, 4.6gm, 19mm

HQ1316, 4.65gm, 18.5mm. KM-825

Abdul Rahman Khan

H6b: AR Abbasi in Toughra H5h: AR 1/2 Rupee in Toughra -i- Khorasonee Obv-! Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman” in Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman” in

toughra. Date above king’s name, wheat wreaths

toughra, title below. Divided date above king’s

around, wheat wreaths around.

name, wheat wreath around. Rev-! Mosque in center, Kabul above. Value “yak abbasi” Rev- Mosque in the middle, crossed cannons below

below mosque, wheat wreaths around.

mosque, wheat wreath around. !

! HQ1319, 4.7g, 20mm. KM-831

HQ1313, 3.11gm, 16mm. KM810

H6c: AR Abbasi in Toughra -i- Khorasonee Obv- !Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title be-

H6a: AR Abbasi in Toughra

low in toughra. Star above, slanted date right Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”. Star

above toughra.

above king’s name within toughra. Wheat wreath Rev- ! Mosque in center, date and value “yak abbasi” be-

around.

low mosque. Star above, wheat wreaths around. Rev- ! Mosque in center; Kabul and date underneath; a

Large flan (16.5mm)

star above; wheat wreath around. ! !

HQ1314, 3.11gm. 16.5mm. KM-816.1

HQ1312, 3.0g, 16mm

Abdul Rahman Khan

H7b: AR Senari in Toughra -i- Khorasonee Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title below in toughra, wheat wreaths around. Rev-! Mosque in center. Kabul above, date below mosque. Wheat wreath around. !

HQ1315, 1.4gm, 13mm. KM-824.1

H7c: AR Senari in Toughra -i- Khorasonee Obv- Legend in center “Amir Abdul Rahman”, title below in toughra. Date in the loop of toughra, wheat wreaths around. Rev- Mosque in center, star above, crossed cannons and swords below mosque. Wheat wreath around. HQ1315, 1.4gm, 13mm. KM-823.1

Abdul Rahman Khan Copper, Brass & Bronze Coins

H10a: AE Pasia Obv-! “Zarb dar al saltanat-e Kabul”, in dotted circle, ornate border. Rev-! Date below mosque all in ornate wreath. H8: AE 100 Dinar (10 Pisa)

HQ1309, 4.6gm, 21.5mm. KM-802

Obv-! “Zarb dar al saltanat-e Kabul”, all within dotted circle. Rev-! Mosque above. 100 dinar below. !

HQ1311, 46.0gm, 41mm. KM-809 H10b: AE Pasia Obv-! “Zarb dar al saltanat-e Kabul”, in dotted circle, ornate border. Rev-! Date below mosque all in ornate wreath. Small flan. !

HQ1309, 4.6gm, 20mm. KM-802

H9: Brass & AE 1 Shahi (5 Pisa) Obv- “Zarb dar al saltanat-e Kabul”, all within dotted circle, ornate boarders. Rev- ! Mosque above. Date below yak Shahi. !

HQ1309, 23.2gm, 31.5mm. KM-803

Abdul Rahman Khan

H10e: AE Pasia

H10c: AE Pasia

Obv-! “Zarb dar al saltanat-e Kabul”, in dotted circle, or-

Obv-! Zarb dar al saltanat-e Kabul”, in dotted circle, or-

nate border.

Rev-! Disjointed date 13 left, 1 within and 3 in front of Yak. Rev-! Date below mosque all in ornate wreath. Large !

flan. !

HQ1313, HQ1314, 4.5gm, 21mm. KM-802.1

HQ1309, 4.4gm, 24mm. KM-800

H10f: AE Pasia Obv- “Zarb dar al saltanat-e Kabul”, in dotted circle, orH10d: AE Pasia

nate border.

Obv-! “Zarb dar al saltanat-e Kabul”, in dotted circle, or-

Rev-! Split date, 13 left and 14 in front of “y” Yak.

nate border. ! Rev-! Split date 13 left and 12 within Yak. !

HQ1314, 4.5gm, 21mm. KM-802.2

HQ1312, HQ1313, HQ1314, HQ1316, HQ1317, 4.5gm, 21mm. KM-802

Abdul Rahman Khan

H10g: Brass Pasia

H10i: Brass & AE Pasia

Obv- “Zarb dar al saltanat-e Kabul”, all within circle.

Obv-! “Zarb dar al saltanat-e Kabul”, all within circle.

Date below “t” of Sutlanate. A star at top, all sur-

rounded in double circle of dots.

Rev-! Mosque, Yak paisa below.

Rev- ! Mosque, Yak paisa below.

HQ1317, 4.6gm, 20.5mm. KM-827

HQ1317, 4.6gm, 20.5mm. KM-827.2

H10h: Brass Paisa Obv- “Zarb dar al saltanat-e Kabul”, all within circle. Date below “t” of Sutlanate. A star at top, all surrounded in double circle of dots. Rev-! Mosque, Yak paisa below. Date HQ1317 also on reverse. !

HQ1317, 4.6gm, 20.5mm. KM-827.1