INDIA, Islamic Sultanates. Delhi. Sher Shah Suri, AH 944-952 / AD 1538-1545. Rupee (Silver, 27 mm, 11.47 g, 3 h), AH 951 = AD 1544/5. Elephant advancing left with indradhavaja below; to left, inverted taurine with swastika below. Rev. Three-arched hill above hollow cross on the left; Taurine above tree-in-railing on the right. Goron & Goenka, The Coins of the Indian Sultanates, D827. A lightly toned and well struck example. About extremely fine.


Sher Shah Suri was an Afghan adventurer who attacked and defeated the Mughal ruler, Humayun. The many reforms initiated by Sher Shah included the introduction of the rupee to replace the tanka and are commonly credited to have laid the groundwork for the great revival of Mughal might after his accidental death in a gunpowder explosion during a siege in May 1545.