Afghanistan; Asia, Central -- Description and travel; Eastern question (Central Asia)
3-5 pice (copper) = 1 shahi (silver).
2 shahis (silver) = 1 abbassi (silver).
2 abbassis (silver) = 1 jindek Herat (silver).
3 jindeks (silver) = 1 rupee Kandahar (silver).
2 rupees Kandahar (silver) = 1 rupee Kabul (silver).
1 jindek = 4_d._
1 rupee Kandahar = 1_s._
1 rupee Kabul = 2_s._
In order to re-establish the currency of the country upon a sound basis
Abdur Rahman opened a mint in Kabul. At the same time he re-organised
the methods of revenue collection, besides improving the channels
through which it was received.
The work of the mint was at first conducted by hand. It was not
until some years after he had ascended the throne that the late
Amir introduced minting machinery, at the same time requesting
the Government of India to loan the services of an Englishman to
superintend its erection. The official thus despatched was Mr.
McDermot, employed in the Calcutta mint; and under his supervision
Kabuli workmen learnt to cut the dies, to erect the stamps and to
strike off the coins. The capacity of the plant which was erected in
Kabul was limited to a silver and copper mintage of 100,000 coins a
day, made up of five and ten pice pieces, rupees, half-rupees and
third-rupees. In contradistinction to the rupees which had previously
been struck off at Kabul, each new rupee was worth only one shilling.
These coins bore upon their faces the inscription--a translation of a
title conferred upon Abdur Rahman by his people in 1896--“The Light of
the Nation and of Religion”; the reverse side bore his coat-of-arms.
Until this superscription was adopted, coins were engraved only with
the date and place of casting upon one side, and upon the reverse
the name of the ruler--“Cast at the Capital of Kabul: Amir Abdur
Rahman.” Since Habib Ullah’s accession Abdur Rahman’s coinage has been
superseded by a new issue bearing in Turkish characters the inscription
“Amir Habib Ullah Khan, Amir of Kabul, The Seeker of God’s help.” The
engraving on the obverse represents a mosque with pulpit and minarets,
encircled by rifles, standards, swords and cannon. Habib Ullah’s coins
are of lower standard to the previous issue; actual exchange against
Indian currency being:
R. A. P. R. A. P.
1 Kabuli rupee = 0 7 9 and 1 Kandahari rupee = 0 4 6
The Amir’s officials in levying duties maintain an arbitrary and wholly
fictitious rate of exchange under which
Indian. Indian.
R. A. P. R. A. P.
1 Kabuli rupee = 0 13 4 and 1 Kandahari rupee = 0 8 0
The income of Afghanistan has always been subject to serious
fluctuation. In 1839, at a moment when Kandahar, Herat, and Kabul were
separate territories, and there were ten rupees to the pound sterling,
the proceeds from each State were:
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