Question

Which sultan of Delhi Sultanate introduced copper and brass coins?
A. Alauddin Khilji
B. Mohammed bin Tughlaq
C. Firoz Shah Tughlaq
D. Jalaluddin Khilji

Answer 1

Hint Delhi Sultanate introduced coins as a part of the monetary economic system all across the provinces of India in the first half of the 14th century. The commencement of the monetary system began a new era for the Indian subcontinent as it improved the social and economical conditions of the kingdoms.

Complete step-by-step solution
Mohammad Ghori, the second Muslim invader, after making Lahore as the capital minted gold coins in imitation of the coins that were current in the country. Qutbuddin Aibak succeeded the throne after the demise of Muhammad Ghori, no coins were found by historians that bore his name since he probably never issued any coin in his name. Among the coins that were issued under Iltutmish, Qutbuddin Aibak’s successor, most important were the coins which had the name of the Abbasid Khalifa-al-Mustansir on one side. During Alauddin Khilji’s ruling period and that of his successor, Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah, gold and silver 'tankah' with heavyweight coins were issued.
Following Khilji, the rulers of the Tughlaq dynasty continued the patterns of Khilji coinage and coins. Muhammad bin Tughlaq later introduced the Token currency in which brass and copper coins were to have the same value as silver and gold coins.

Thus, option (B) is correct

Additional Information There were two distinct types of coins in use during that time, one would be used in Delhi and the other in Daulatabad. The copper coins had twelve different types.

Note Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq’s token currency was considered to be a complete failure because the token currency was made of copper and brass and had equal value as silver and gold coins. Following this, many people started forging and issuing these coins at their homes.