India – Imitation Silver Rupee of Mughal Emperor Akbar (Lahore Type, AH 988 / 1580 AD Design)

This exceptional square silver coin is a faithful 19th–20th century imitation of a celebrated Mughal rupee of Emperor Jalal al-Din Muhammad Akbar, originally struck at the Lahore Mint during AH 988 / 1580 AD. It reflects the enduring influence of Mughal coinage across India long after the empire’s decline.

The obverse bears the Kalima, the Islamic declaration of faith — “La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah” (“There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”) — arranged within a diamond-shaped panel. Each corner features delicate floral scrollwork in classical Mughal style, symbolizing divine harmony.

On the reverse, four beautifully engraved lines in Persian replicate Akbar’s royal titles:
“Khallad Allah Mulkahu — Muhammad Akbar Badshah — Jalal al-Din Ghazi — Zarb Dar al-Sultanat Lahore.”
(“May God perpetuate his kingdom — Muhammad Akbar, King — Jalal al-Din, the Victor — Struck at the Seat of the Sultanate, Lahore.”)

The engraving displays high craftsmanship, retaining the bold calligraphy and square format of Akbar’s historic rupees while showing the elegant stylization typical of later imitative issues.

During the late Mughal and colonial periods, imitation rupees such as this were produced for ceremonial, trade, or regional use. They paid homage to one of the most influential emperors of the Mughal dynasty — Akbar the Great (r. 1556–1605) — whose reign marked a golden age of art, architecture, and cultural synthesis in India.

This specimen, struck in bright silver and showing crisp detail, stands as a cultural echo of the Mughal minting tradition, capturing both artistry and historical continuity in India’s numismatic heritage.

Collection: Coins
Subcategory: Mughal & Indo-Islamic Coins
Tags: Mughal, Akbar, Silver Coin, Imitation Rupee, Islamic, Lahore Mint, Indo-Islamic, 19th Century, Square Coin, Historical, Numismatic