Question

Who among the following introduced the new coin ‘Dam’?
A. Akbar
B. Babar
C. Harsha
D. Sher Shah

Answer 1

Hint: A small copper coin of India was called Dam. The Mughal emperors later standardised this coin with other silver and gold coins to maintain uniformity.

Complete answer: Sher Shah Suri was the founder of the suri empire. The capital of the Suri empire is Sasaram. Today it is in Bihar. Sher Shah was a very capable administrator and general. The Indian copper coin Dam was introduced by Sher Shahin between 1540-1545.One rupee was divided into 40 dams. It is often said that the word dam was taken from the English phrase ‘don’t give a damn’ because of its nominal value. The Gold coins issued by Sher Shah were called Mohur and the copper coins were called Dams.
Sher Shah set up his own military and economic administration. He was the first one to issue the ‘Tanka’ or ‘Rupaiya. The Rupaiya weighed 178 grams and it resembles the present Indian rupee.He also established the first postal system in the Indian subcontinent. His strategies were so brilliant that they were later used by Mughal emperors. Humayun’s Dina-panah city was revived by Sher Shah and he named it Shergarh. He also brought back the city of Pataliputra to life. Sher Shah expanded the Grand Trunk road from Chittagong in the northern province of Bengal to the northeastern parts of India.

Thus, Option D is the correct answer.

Note: During seven years of his reign, Sher Shah never lost a battle. Humayun conferred him the title of ‘‘Ustad-I-Badshahan”.