Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq’s Four Gani, 1320-1325 A.D.

Numismatic & Historical Notes

Before becoming sultan, Ghiyath distinguished himself defending the frontier against Mongol attacks. He subsequently built Tughlaqabad, Delhi’s fortified capital, beginning in 1321. His end was dramatic: in 1325, a wooden reception pavilion collapsed and killed him; suspicions implicated his son, the future Muhammad bin Tughluq, although assassination remains unproven. An intriguing twist: four-gani coins continued in his name after his death, including examples dated AH 726. Obverse The Arabic legend reads al-sultan al-ghazi ghiyath al-dunya wa’l din: approximately, “The warrior Sultan, helper of the world and the faith.” The title al-ghazi recalls his earlier identity as Ghazi Malik. Reverse The Arabic legend reads abu’l muzaffar tughluq shah al-sultan, naming “Abu’l Muzaffar Tughluq Shah, the Sultan.” Both faces proclaim royal names and titles rather than displaying a portrait.