Sira Mint
Coins were issued from the Sira mint by:
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Moghuls |
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History
Sira, located in Tumkur district,
Karnataka, was made into a provincial capital by Aurangzeb, when he annexed the
last remaining vestiges of the Adilashahi and Qutbshahi Sultanates and
reorganized the newly conquered territories into two new Mughal provinces -
Karnatak Balaghat and Karnatak Payinghat. Sira was ruled by a succession of
provincial governors, who later in 18th century became practically independent
as Nawabs. Even though a town of great political importance it is surprising
that Sira left a very scant numismatic record, and rare rupees with mint-names
'Karnatak' and 'Dar al-Zafar Bijapur Karnatak' are plausibly struck here. This
is the first instance that a mohur struck in the name of Aurangzeb has come to
light. It is struck towards the end of Aurangzeb's reign, during the
governorship of Murad Mansur Khan. Local kingdoms like Harpanahalli, Kondarpi,
Anegundi, Bednur, Chitaldroog and Mysore were considered to be tributary to the
province of Sira and it is likely that the coin was struck by one of these, to
pay a tribute to the Mughals. (taken from Zeno)