‘Mosque’ series, Islamic silver temple token - obverse side (c.1900)
The Colonnade mosque series of Indian Islamic temple tokens were struck in and around Calcutta and Bombay (Mumbai) from the mid 19th century until the 1940’s. As with the general trend for temple tokens, these were initially struck in high grade silver which became progressively debased until the coins were being struck on silver-wash brass flans. High-grade silver temple tokens of similar weight to contemporary rupees were used only for votive purposes and did not circulate as currency.
The obverse side depicts the Kalima within a border. The names of each of the caliphs of the Caliphate (after Mohammed) appear in each quadrant. The Kalima (meaning The Word) is the Muslim statement of faith and reads as La Illaha, Illa-Allah, Mohammed rasul Allah (There is no God but Allah, Mohammed is the prophet of Allah). The Kalima appears on all Sunni Muslim temple tokens.
The four Caliphs were Abu Bakr (reigned 632 - 634, 1st caliph) Umar (634 - 644) Uthmaan (644 - 655) and Ali (656 - 661).
.
Size: 1 1/8” diameter (about 28mm).
Material: Mildly debased silver.
Edge: Plain (no collar used in the minting process).
Weight: 12.1g
.
Sold eBay 17/7/2012 for €12.00
‘Mosque’ series, Islamic silver temple token - obverse side (c.1900)
The Colonnade mosque series of Indian Islamic temple tokens were struck in and around Calcutta and Bombay (Mumbai) from the mid 19th century until the 1940’s. As with the general trend for temple tokens, these were initially struck in high grade silver which became progressively debased until the coins were being struck on silver-wash brass flans. High-grade silver temple tokens of similar weight to contemporary rupees were used only for votive purposes and did not circulate as currency.
The obverse side depicts the Kalima within a border. The names of each of the caliphs of the Caliphate (after Mohammed) appear in each quadrant. The Kalima (meaning The Word) is the Muslim statement of faith and reads as La Illaha, Illa-Allah, Mohammed rasul Allah (There is no God but Allah, Mohammed is the prophet of Allah). The Kalima appears on all Sunni Muslim temple tokens.
The four Caliphs were Abu Bakr (reigned 632 - 634, 1st caliph) Umar (634 - 644) Uthmaan (644 - 655) and Ali (656 - 661).
.
Size: 1 1/8” diameter (about 28mm).
Material: Mildly debased silver.
Edge: Plain (no collar used in the minting process).
Weight: 12.1g
.
Sold eBay 17/7/2012 for €12.00