ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · User:LouisAragon (uploader) · CC BY-SA 2.5
Delhi Sultanate Tanka
India
1206–1526
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Specifications
| Country | India |
| Years Minted | 1206–1526 |
| Composition | Silver |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
Design
Obverse
The obverse typically features Arabic inscriptions including the name of the ruling sultan and elements of the Islamic creed.
Reverse
The reverse usually displays Arabic script with the mint name and possibly the date.
History & Notable Facts
The Delhi Sultanate Tanka's inscriptions often doubled as propaganda, boldly declaring the sultan's name and titles in Arabic script to legitimize rule over a fractious realm.
These silver coins, minted from roughly 4.5 to 5.5 grams of alloyed metal, varied by ruler and mint. Early ones under figures like Iltutmish were crudely struck, while later issues under the Tughlaq dynasty showed finer detail, reflecting advances in die technology. No two Tankas were identical, thanks to hand-crafting that introduced quirks like off-center strikes or irregular edges.
We don't know exact mintages; records from that era are mostly lost to time and conquest. As for myths about these coins bringing luck or curses, I've seen enough fakes to know it's all just tarnish.
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