Monetary History of Mughal India As Reflected in Silver Coin Hoards

The present study is an attempt at reconstructing, with the help of coin hoards inventory published by the State Museum, Lucknow, the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Mughal silver coinage circulating in the area of the present-day Uttar Pradesh in the period between 1560 and 1760. In the first part of the book the author outlines basic principles of his method and stresses the necessity to interpret incidences of particular types of coins in their hoard contexts. To assess correctly the value of hoards as statistically relevant samples of past coin stocks, possible distorting effects and biases have been identified and taken into account in the following analysis. In the second part the author presents in form of graphs the
changing percentual Shares of coins minted during particular regnal periods and reconstructs changes in the silver
coins output of the more important Mughal mints. On the basis of incidences of coins minted in particular years and considering several possible rates of attrition he constructs alternative curves showing approximate quantitative development of the Mughal silver coin stock in the area of the U.P. Its relative stability over greater part of the 17th century may help explain i.a. the absence of the so called price revolution during this important period of Indian history.