Leo Zodiac Silver Rupee of Ahmedabad Mint Leo Zodiac Silver Rupee of Ahmedabad Mint

This double-die struck coin was minted at Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India) during the 13th regnal year of Jahangir (1569- 1627 CE) in AH 1014 / 1618 CE, during the 5th Solar Hijri calendar's month of Amardad which is equivalent to the Zodiac sign Leo (July – August).

On the obverse of the coin is the constellation of "Leo" and at the bottom, it mentions "sana 13 julus" indicating the 13th regnal of Jahangir. On the reverse of the coin, it mentions "zar Ahmedabad ra dad zewar, Shah Jahangir Shahenshah Akbar", which translates to "Ahmedabad was decorated with gold by Shah Jahangir, Emperor Akbar" and at the bottom of the coin it mentions "zarb (mint) Ahmadabad".

This coin, struck in Ahmedabad under Jahangir's name, has, a "Leo" zodiac sign. Ahmedabad produced the first zodiac coins. A Lion facing left is depicted on the obverse, with the Sun's rays above it. Since "Leo" was Jahangir's birth sign according to Iranian astrology, it held significant meaning for him. Since the sign of Leo was thought to be the home of Jupiter, the planet linked to royalty, the "lion and sun" was also the Mughal emblem of the state.

Jahangir, a great patron of the arts, took a keen interest in coinage during his reign. The Zodiac coins were the most controversial yet unique among his innovative coinage. The ‘Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri’ mentions that Jahangir ordered star constellation figures to replace the inscriptions detailing the month of issue, present on the coin's reverse. He issued gold and silver coins with all twelve Zodiac signs on the reverse. The original ‘Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri’ contains illustrations of the twelve coin designs. Not only were these coin designs completely original, but they also went against the Islamic orthodoxy.

The ‘Zodiac’ and ‘Portrait’ coins gave Jahangir’s coins their ‘scandalous’ reputation because Islamic societies follow aniconism- the absence of imagery of sentient beings in art. However, Shah Jahan, a devout, considered the iconography improper and discontinued this series of Jahangir during his reign.

This double-die struck coin was minted at Ahmedabad (Gujarat, India) during the 13th regnal year of Jahangir (1569- 1627 CE) in AH 1014 / 1618 CE, during the 5th Solar Hijri calendar's month of Amardad which is equivalent to the Zodiac sign Leo (July – August).

On the obverse of the coin is the constellation of "Leo" and at the bottom, it mentions "sana 13 julus" indicating the 13th regnal of Jahangir. On the reverse of the coin, it mentions "zar Ahmedabad ra dad zewar, Shah Jahangir Shahenshah Akbar", which translates to "Ahmedabad was decorated with gold by Shah Jahangir, Emperor Akbar" and at the bottom of the coin it mentions "zarb (mint) Ahmadabad".

This coin, struck in Ahmedabad under Jahangir's name, has, a "Leo" zodiac sign. Ahmedabad produced the first zodiac coins. A Lion facing left is depicted on the obverse, with the Sun's rays above it. Since "Leo" was Jahangir's birth sign according to Iranian astrology, it held significant meaning for him. Since the sign of Leo was thought to be the home of Jupiter, the planet linked to royalty, the "lion and sun" was also the Mughal emblem of the state.

Jahangir, a great patron of the arts, took a keen interest in coinage during his reign. The Zodiac coins were the most controversial yet unique among his innovative coinage. The ‘Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri’ mentions that Jahangir ordered star constellation figures to replace the inscriptions detailing the month of issue, present on the coin's reverse. He issued gold and silver coins with all twelve Zodiac signs on the reverse. The original ‘Tuzuk-e-Jahangiri’ contains illustrations of the twelve coin designs. Not only were these coin designs completely original, but they also went against the Islamic orthodoxy.

The ‘Zodiac’ and ‘Portrait’ coins gave Jahangir’s coins their ‘scandalous’ reputation because Islamic societies follow aniconism- the absence of imagery of sentient beings in art. However, Shah Jahan, a devout, considered the iconography improper and discontinued this series of Jahangir during his reign.