AFGHANISTAN, Durrani Shahs. Ahmad Shah. AH 1160-1186 / AD 1747-1773. AV Half Mohur (22mm, 5.50 g, 12h). Lion type. Dera mint. Dually dated [AH 116(2 or 3)] and RY 2 (1748/9). EF.

Triton XXVI
Lot: 991. Estimated: $ 15 000

World, Coin-in-Hand Video, Gold

Sold For $ 30 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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AFGHANISTAN, Durrani Shahs. Ahmad Shah. AH 1160-1186 / AD 1747-1773. AV Half Mohur (22mm, 5.50 g, 12h). Lion type. Dera mint. Dually dated [AH 116(2 or 3)] and RY 2 (1748/9). Album –; ICV –; cf. KM 314 (heavy rupee); Zeno 122275 (this coin). Lightly toned, light marks, some peripheral weakness, evidence of having been placed in a bezel. EF. Extremely rare, none in CoinArchives.

Struck at the recently captured city of Dera (mod. Dera Ismail Khan) in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of northwestern Pakistan, the figure on this extremely rare half mohur has been interpreted as a wolf. A more plausible option is that the image is that of a lion, present in the region until 1842. It is possible to associate the lion here with Ahmad Shah, who is depicted in two contemporary miniatures, seated under a canopy on a lion skin. His tomb epitaph also notes that “In his time, from the awe and glory of his greatness / The lioness nourished the stag with her milk.”

The final winners of all Triton XXVI lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 10-11 January 2023.

Triton XXVI – Session Four – Lots 991-1315 will be held Wednesday afternoon, 11 January 2023 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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