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1/2 Rupee / Qiran - Abdur Rahman Kabul Mint
| Issuer | Afghanistan |
|---|---|
| Year | 1896 |
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| Composition | Silver (.500) |
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| Obverse description | Central field occupied by the name of Amir Abdur Rahman Khan rendered in bold, flowing Arabic calligraphy (tughra-style), surmounted by the regnal year 1313 AH at the top. The central inscription is framed by a wreath of olive branches tied at the base, whose stems meet at a floral ornament at the bottom. The entire design is bordered by a fine beaded circle running along the coin's rim. |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | عبد الرحمن (Translation: 'Abd al-Rahman) |
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| Additional information |
Abdur Rahman Khan spent much of his reign — 1880 to 1901 — consolidating power after the Second Anglo-Afghan War left the country effectively a British protectorate in foreign affairs while nominally independent domestically. His monetary reforms were part of a deliberate effort to centralize authority away from regional governors who had previously controlled local coin production. The Kabul mint under his administration was the primary instrument of that standardization.
The .500 fineness reflects a pragmatic debasement common to Afghan silver of this period, distinguishing it from earlier issues struck closer to sterling standard.