Novamarketing Chiasso Medals Coins Afghanistan Afghanistan Barakzai Abdur Rahman Khan Rupee

# 52Rupee AH 138 Abdur Rahman KhanAfghanistan - Barakzai
Afghanistan – Barakzai Dynasty – Abdur Rahman Khan, as Amir (AH 1297-1319 / AD 1880-1901). Rupee AH 1308 (AD 1890/1), Mint: Kabul, Silver (ø 23 mm – w. 9.35 g.). Edge: grained. Hamidi (4A), KM (806).

Obverse:
Amir's Toughra (1) in centre (Mir Abd al-Rahman = Abdur Rahman, the Amir), open wheat wreath around tied with ribbon below, five-pointed star at top. Border of dots.

Reverse:
Mihrab and Minbar (2) with two flags in centre, Mint name (Kabul) and date (1308) below, open wheat wreath around tied with ribbon below, five-pointed star at top. Border of dots.

Note:
Error on the date: digit 0 missing in the die (Date = AH 138).
First machine struck rupee minted in Afghanistan, with the new minting machines imported from Europe, under the superintendence of Mr. McDermot (formerly employed at the Government Mint in Calcutta).

(1) A style of elaborately adorned, calligraphic, imperial or royal signature, wich is characterized by flowing loops and vertical stems.
(2) The Mihrab is a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the Mecca. The Minbar is the elevated reading desk or pulpit.

Web References:
http://dewardt.net/dimebook/Afghanistan.pdf

Literature:
Hakim Hamidi - A Catalog of Modern Coins of Afghanistan - Ministry of Finance, Education Press, Franklin Book Programs, Kabul, 1967.
Krause C. and Mishler C. - Standard Catalog of World Coins 1801-1900 - Krause Publications, 4th Edition, Usa, 2004.