There is no evidence that this purported 1818 coin depicting Lord Ram was issued by Mughals - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 9, 2022
A photo of a purported coin from 1818 is shared through a social media post claiming that even during Mughal era in India, coins depicting Lord Ram were issued. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Photo of a purported coin from 1818 confirms that coins depicting Lord Ram were issued even during Mughal rule.
Fact: We could not find any evidence to show that the purported 1818 coin depicting Lord Ram was issued by a Mughal emperor. Though Mughal emperor Akbar had issued few coins depicting Lord Ram and Sita, those coins were unlike the coin shown in the viral photo. Such coins from Akbar weren’t issued in large numbers and minting ended right after Akbar’s death in 1605. Some coins claiming to be from 1818 are modern, counterfeit coins made to look old and valuable. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
Coins issued in India which are of legal tender are available on the RBI website. This coin with the engraving of Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman, could not be found on the website. Even in the museum section of RBI’s website, the coins of the Mughal Empire were unlike the one shown in the viral claim.
With the death of Aurangzeb in 1707, the decline of Mughal empire slowly started. “Although they (provinces like Hyderabad and Awadh) continued to recognise the Mughal emperor in Delhi as their master, by the eighteenth century the provinces of the empire had consolidated their independent political identities.” From 1760s onwards British started grabbing Indian territory. In 1818, Mughals were no more a major power in India. Hence, in 1818, the Mughals could not have issued such a coin depicting Lord Ram.
Few coins depicting Lord Ram and Sita were issued by Mughal Emperor Akbar. However, such coins weren’t issued in large numbers and minting ended right after Akbar’s death in 1605. The coins are unlike the viral coin in the post.
Kingdoms in the South had reference to Gods in the coins issued. Madras presidency in early 19 century had coins featuring temple gopuram and Vishnu. However, we could not find the exact coin mentioned in the viral post.
According to coinquest website, the copper coins with the inscription of East India Company and, dates like 1616, 1717, 1818, are mostly a ‘spiritually oriented token recently manufactured and sold to tourists.’ “…these pieces are modern, counterfeit coins made to look old and be valuable.”
To sum it up, there is no evidence that this purported 1818 coin was issued by Mughals.