Portrait of
Aurangzeb

Mughal School, Period: Early 18th Century A.D.
Collection: Kasturbhai Lalbhai Collection, housed at Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad

Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad (r. 1659- 1707 A.D.) also known as Aurangzeb was the most controversial ruler of Indian history, who succeeded to the throne after Shah Jahan. His reign touched the expansion of Mughal Empire across Indian subcontinent that he came to be known as Alamgir, 'the Conqueror of the world'. In contrast to his boundless administrative achievements, the presented portrait is an incomplete drawing of the Emperor standing, holding the scabbard of the sword in his hand. He is wearing his bejewelled royal turban. A patka is tied around his waist in which is tucked a dagger. Some Devanagari alphabets are inscribed above the head which should have aided in the identification but unfortunately no specific meaning can be deciphered.

Silver coin of Aurangzeb (Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad)
Period: Early 18th Century A.D.

Mint: Surat
Collection: Arvind Index collection, housed at Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad

Large numbers of coins were struck in the name of Aurangzeb from numerous mints across his empire. His coins including those in copper were struck, besides at Ahmedabad, from Surat and Junagarh also, almost year by year. Hardly any coins of the latter Mughal rulers have been found struck from mints in Gujarat and Ahmedabad in particular from the middle of the 18th century.

Portrait of
Shah Jahan on Throne with Courtiers,

Mughal School, Period: Mid-17th Century A.D.
Collection: N.C. Mehta Collection, housed at Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad

Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram, (r.1628 to 1658 A.D.), regal name Shah Jahan, succeeded to the throne after the death of his father Jahangir. Inspite of the political turmoil during his period, he is known to be the greatest of Mughal emperors. The painting of Shah Jahan on the throne attending upon his courtiers is an interesting court painting of him with his Princes. The figures standing on the right represent none other than the Emperor's sons Dara Shikoh, Shujah, Murad, and Aurangzeb. Shahjahan's illness in 1657 A.D. triggered a bitter war of succession among the four brothers of whom the third son Aurangzeb reign over the empire. In the painting the figure depicted raising his hands in arrogance could be could be constructed to represent Aurangzeb.

Silver coin of Shah Jahan
Period: Mid-17th Century A.D.

Mint: Surat
Collection: Arvind Index, housed at Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad

Shahjahan during his reign discontinued the use of Zodiac signs in the coins, but placed decorative borders around the Kalima (There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah). Many silver coins of Shajahan were also minted at Surat when Aurangzeb occupied the throne in 1659 A.D., who immediately forbade the use of Kalima on the coins. Hence forth, these holy words never appeared in Indian coins again.

This coin above, along with 43 others were found during the excavation for the foundation of the spinning department premises of Arvind Index Limited.

Portrait of
Mughal Queen

Mughal School, Period: Mid-17th Century A.D.
Collection: N.C. Mehta Collection, housed at Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad

This bust size representation of a female wearing a tall conical shaped head-gear, embellished with pearl strings, could represent none other than Nur Jahan, the favorite wife of Jahangir. Nur Jahan was an intelligent and beautiful lady with an excellent educational background. She was an active participant in the decisions made by Emperor Jahangir. Slowly and gradually, she became the actual power behind the throne, as Jahangir became more indulgent in wine and opium. She was often present when the Emperor held court, and even held court independently when the Emperor was unwell.

Coin of Jahangir with Nur Jahan,
Period: Mid-17th Century A.D.

Mint: Ahmedabad
Collection: P.T. Munshaw Collection, housed at Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad

Mehr-un-Nissa, (b.1577- 1645 A.D), known as Nur Jahan was an influential figure in the Mughal administration that Jahangir gave charge of his imperial seal to her. Which implied that her perusal and consent were necessary before any legal document ordered or issued. Soon coins began to be struck with Nur Jahan's name along with Jahangir. The legend reads: "By authority of Shah Jahangir, gold gained a hundred beauties by the name of Nur Jahan Badshah Begum." Upon Shah Jahan's accession he made it a capital crime to use these coins and ordered them all melted, accounting for their rarity.

Portrait of
Jahangir Holding a Falcon

Mughal School, Early 17th century A.D.
Collection: Kasturbhai Lalbhai Collection, housed at Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad

Nur-ud-din-Muhammad Salim (r.1605-1627 A.D), was an amicable and liberal Mughal ruler, whom we know today as a great connoisseur of the art of painting, lover of nature and pursuit of pleasures. His impatience and eagerness to seize the throne, set himself up as an independent ruler initially, but eventually got addicted to opium, during the last few years of his reign. The extent that he gave away the decisions of the r?gime in the influence of his ambitious queen Nurjahan.

The superb line drawing represents Jahangir standing and holding the falcon on his right hand like in the sport of falconry, including the rope tied to the bird's legs. The typical likeness of Jahangir is repeated through centuries and therefore, easily recognizable.

Jahangir's Zodiac coin Cancer
Period: 17th century A.D.

Mint: Unknown
Collection: P.T. Munshaw Collection, housed at Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad

Janhangir had established a distinctive place in the numismatic history of our country for his special interest in regard to the issue of coins. His artistic taste led him to mint coins with not just finest calligraphic taste but also with beautiful Zodiac series of Mughal coins. The present display is a beautiful silver coin of Jahangir with the zodiac symbol of Cancer and sun radiating from behind.

Portrait of
Akbar Holding a Falcon

17th century A.D.
Collection: Kasturbhai Lalbhai Collection, housed at Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad

Abu'l fath Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar (r. 1556-1605 A.D.), popularly known as 'Akbar the Great' for his military conquest and religious tolerance, occupies a unique position in the history of India. He is known as an undaunted soldier, a benevolent and wise ruler, a man with enlightened ideas and shrewd judge of character. The line drawing of Akbar in his advanced age, with a falcon in his hand is a significant and iconographic feature amongst his portrait paintings. The artist has carefully rendered the face, as well as the falcon. The face has been touched up with pink for the complexion and white for the beard. Akbar holding a falcon has served as a prototype for many royal portraits during the 17th and 18th centuries.

Silver coin of Akbar
Din-e-illahi period

Mint: Ahmedabad
Collection: P.T. Munshaw Collection, Housed at Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum

Akbar coins are the most diverse and exquisite among Mughal Emperors. Until the first 29 years of his reign, a large variety of coins, of different sizes and designs were issued in Kalima type, which read la ilah il allah Mohammad rasul allah (There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah). But by 1582, Akbar preached about Din-i-Ilahi (religion of God), the divine faith which is a beautiful amalgamation of Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity. The presented one is a silver coin of Din-e-illahi period, minted in Ahmedabad after the Akbar conquered over Gujarat Sultanate. Sources reveal that silver for minting coins in Ahmedabad were imported from Iran, Turkey and Iraq.