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1 Jital - Shams ud-Din Iltumish
| Issuer | Delhi Sultanate |
|---|---|
| Year | 1210-1235 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Jital (1⁄48) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Devanagari |
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a bold Arabic inscription in Naskh-style script distributed across the irregularly shaped field, reading 'Al-Sultan Shams al-Din' (السلطان شمس الدين), proclaiming the regnal title and name of Sultan Shams ud-Din Iltumish. The lettering is deeply struck and occupies the majority of the flan, with individual words or phrases arranged in registers. Traces of green patination are visible across the surface, consistent with the billon alloy composition. The field shows the characteristic rough texture of a hand-struck medieval Indian coin, with slight die misalignment. No mint name or date appears, in keeping with the standard practice for jital coinage of this reign. |
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| Additional information |
Iltutmish — the spelling preferred by most modern historians over the catalog's romanization — was not born to rule. A slave purchased by Qutb ud-Din Aibak, he rose through military distinction to become governor of Badaun before seizing the sultanate itself in 1211 following Aibak's death in a polo accident. His billon jitals were the workhorse coinage of early Delhi, circulating across a revenue apparatus he was actively rebuilding from Ghurid foundations. The Delhi mint had no continuous tradition to inherit; Iltutmish was largely inventing administrative coinage as he went.