Which one of the following cities during the Mughal period was not a mint city ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
The correct answer is Bhopal because, unlike the other cities listed, Bhopal did not function as an official imperial mint city under the centralized authority of the Mughal Empire. The Mughals maintained a sophisticated and widespread monetary system, establishing mints in key administrative, commercial, and political centers to standardize currency (gold, silver, and copper) across their vast empire. While Bhopal was an important settlement, it primarily rose to prominence much later as the capital of the independent princely state of Bhopal, founded by Dost Mohammad Khan in the early 18th century, a period when Mughal central authority was rapidly declining. Coins struck in Bhopal generally belonged to this subsequent phase or to the Nawab's rule, not the primary imperial Mughal mint network.

The incorrect option is 1: Agra was one of the most important Mughal cities, serving as a capital during the reigns of Akbar and Shah Jahan. Consequently, it housed a major imperial mint, striking various denominations of Mughal currency throughout the empire's peak period.

The incorrect option is 2: Ahmedabad was a crucial commercial hub and the provincial capital of the rich province of Gujarat. Due to its economic importance and strategic location for trade, Ahmedabad was a well-known and productive mint city under continuous Mughal control.

The incorrect option is 3: Ajmer, a significant political and religious center (especially under Akbar), was also designated as a mint city by the Mughals, as confirmed by available numismatic evidence. Its administrative importance ensured that coins were struck there, indicating its integral role in the imperial structure.