Novamarketing Chiasso Medals Coins Afghanistan Afghanistan Barakzai Abdur Rahman Khan Rupee 1304

# 50Rupee AH 1304 Abdur Rahman KhanAfghanistan - Barakzai
Afghanistan – Barakzai Dynasty – Abdur Rahman Khan (AH 1297-1319 / AD 1880-1901). Rupee AH 1304 (AD 1886/7), Mint: Kabul, Dar al-Sultanat (Heaton, Birmingham), Silver (ø 23 mm – w. 9.17 g.). Edge: grained. Die orientation: coin alignment. Hamidi –, KM 805.

Obverse:
Persian legend. Ruler's name and title (from bottom to top: Abd al-Rahman Mir = Abdur Rahman, the Amir). Date (1304) at bottom left. All within linear circle. Border of rays.

Revese:
Persian legend. Mint name with epithet (from top to bottom: Zarb Dar al-Sultanat Kabul = Struck at the Abode of the Sultanate, Kabul). Date (1304) at top left, above the B of ZARB. All within linear circle. Border of rays.

Note:
Machine-struck Rupee produced by the Heaton Mint in Birmingham.
In order to improve the minting of coins in Afghanistan Abdur Rahman turned to the British. The Heaton Mint struck for the Amir, as trial, a coin bearing the legends of the hammered Rupees minted in Kabul (in the years AH 1297-1308) and the date AH 1304 (1886/7 AD) on both sides. After this successful demonstration, in 1890 three large minting machines were imported from Europe and a new mint was established in Kabul attached to a gun factory called Masheenkhana. Mr. McDermot, formerly employed at the Government Mint in Calcutta, instructed Kabuli workmen in the new minting processes. All the local mints were closed and the Kabul mint was the only one allowed to mint coins in Afghanistan.
Certainly this Rupee was minted also for the regular circulation (maybe even at the Kabul Mint, with the Heaton Mint's dies), as it is quite common and it is frequently found worn. Two alignment dies are known.

Web References:
www.gutenberg-e.org/hanifi/chapter5.html

Literature:
Krause C. and Mishler C. – Standard Catalog of World Coins 1801-1900 – Krause Publications, 4th Edition, Usa, 2004.