Dam (Indian coin)

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Copper dam of emperor Akbar, Zafar Qarin mint, AH 1100 (1591-92). Copper dam coin of Akbar, 1000 A. H., Zafar Qarin mint.jpg
Copper dam of emperor Akbar, Zafar Qarin mint, AH 1100 (1591-92).

Sher Shah Suri issued Dam, a copper coin with lower value as compared to silver (Rupiya) and gold (Mohur) coins Dam (indian coin).jpg
Sher Shah Suri issued Dam, a copper coin with lower value as compared to silver (Rupiya) and gold (Mohur) coins

A dam was a small Indian copper coin. The coin was first introduced by Sher Shah Suri during his rule of India between 1540 and 1545, along with Mohur , the gold coin and Rupiya the silver coin. [1] Later on, the Mughal Emperors standardised the coin along with other silver (Rupiya) and gold (Mohur) coins in order to consolidate the monetary system across India. A rupee was divided into 40 dams.

It is believed that this coin is one of the possible sources for the English word "damn", due to its small worth. [2]

See also

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References

  1. Mughal Coinage Archived 2008-05-16 at the Wayback Machine at RBI Monetary Museum. Retrieved on 4 May 2008.
  2. Gorrell, Robert, Watch Your Language: Mother Tongue and Her Wayward Children, University of Nevada Press, 1994. Watch Your Language at Google Books