Zodiac Coin of Jahangir: Aries

A ram stands across the face of a round gold coin, with the rays of a rising sun fanning out behind it. Below runs a line of Persian script. It is shown here in a museum case in Oxford, held by three clear clips.

Mughal coins normally named the month in which they were struck. Jahangir, who believed in astrology, replaced the month with its sign of the zodiac, set against the sun. The series ran in gold and silver; this one was struck at Agra. He also had coins made with his own portrait.

Orthodox scholars disapproved of the images. His son Shah Jahan ordered the zodiac coins melted down, which is why so few survive.