Ahmad Shah Durrani, Silver Mithqal Nisar, 4.56g, Dar al Khilafa Shahjahanabad Mint, RY 14, Obv: In centre, dotted circle with ‘Ahmad’; Persian couplet around “Hukm shud az Qadir bechun b-Ahmad Badshah / Sikka zan bar Seem Zar az Awj-i Mahi ta ba-Mah”, Rev: ‘Julus’ formula, mint-name and RY. Historically significant and of highest rarity. Ex-mount otherwise very fine+, exceedingly rare. Ahmad Shah occupied Delhi for the fifth time soon after October 1760, when the Marathas, beleaguered by lack of money, left the city to proceed northwards. He held a Darbar at this occasion and formally acknowledged Shah Alam II as the absentee emperor, investing Najib Khan Rohilla with the office of his deputy, paymaster and plenipotentiary. Nazarana rupees and mithqals, struck for the purpose of Nisar toward off the evil eye, were struck at this time. Only one other mithqal Nisar is known and it is from the Whitehead collection in the British Museum. This piece is perhaps the only known specimen in private hands. Both are ex-mount – as a special return gift from the emperor these must have been considered to have magical powers and therefore worn on the bodies of the recipients. Soon afterwards in November, Ahmad Shah left Delhi leaving a garrison in charge, to follow the Marathas. The two met at the fateful battle of Panipat in January 1761. The Marathas were defeated and Ahmad Shah made a triumphant return to Delhi. He stayed till March, holding another grand Darbar. Nazarana coins were struck again but they bear the RY 15. No Nisars are yet known.