Muhammad Shah, Silver Rupee, 11.23g, Murtazabad Mint, RY 4 (Unlisted in Major Publication). Complete Mint name on bottom of reverse. Very fine+, extremely rare.
Murtazabad is identified with the town and fort of Miraj, located in SW Maharashtra. In late 17th / early 18th century, Miraj Fort became a strategic stronghold serving as a base for military expeditions against South Konkan and parts of Deccan. Miraj remained under Mughal rule up to 1739 AD. In that year, it was captured by troops under Chhatrapati Shahu. Later the fort was given over to the Peshwa who in turn appointed Krishnarao Joshi Chaskar as their commandant.
While this issue was presumably struck under the jurisdiction of the Nizam of Hyderabad as the Mughal overlord of the Deccan, it bears characteristics of a late Mughal, locally administered mint. The layout of obverse legend differs from all previously known issues, with the word ‘Ghazi’ appearing in full in the middle line.