Mahmud I- Mahmud Begada, Gold Tanka, 11.50g, Shahr-i-Mukarram Muhammadabad urf Champanir Mint, AH 902, Arabic legend on both sides, Obv: In circular border, “Mahmud Shah al Sultan Khallada Khilafathau” Marginal legend, anticlockwise from 4 o’clock “Zarb Hizz-al-Dinar Shahr fi Mukarram Muhammadabad ‘urf Chanpanir Sanah 902”, Rev: “al-Wathiq bi-Tayid al-Rahman Nasir al-Dunya wa-al din Abu al-Fatah” within dotted circle (G&G# G78). Extremely fine, exceedingly rare. Mahmud I consolidated the Sultanate of Gujarat by winning over Saurashtra and becoming the master of two impregnable forts of the region - Champanir and Junagarh; hence the nickname 'Begada' ('Be' = two; 'Gad'/'Garh' = fort). This derivation of his nickname is given by the historian Sikandar Manjhoo in his book Mira’at-i-Sikandari Champanir was captured on 21st November 1484 after a siege lasting 20 months and Mahmud spent the next twenty years modifying and embellishing the fort. He also established a large city at the foot of the Pavagadh hill which he named ‘Muhammadabad’. It was titled as ‘Shahr-i-Mukarram’ or ‘the venerable city’.