Akbar's Ilahi Silver Rupee
Regnal Year 47 ・ silver ・ 17th century ・ Ahmadabad Mint
A silver rupee struck in the name of the Mughal emperor Akbar. The inscription indicates the Ahmadabad mint, Ilahi type, regnal year 47. The Ilahi calendar was established by Akbar, using his own accession as its epoch. It is neither the Hijri calendar nor the Vikrama calendar. When a year is inscribed on a coin, the starting point from which it is counted becomes a declaration of who controls time. Akbar chose himself as the starting point.