The numismatic reflection of Abbasid-Turkish traditions in Bengal Sultanate coinage

This study examines how the Bengal Sultanate’s coinage reflected political authority, Islamic religious identity, and cultural change. It argues that coinage was a tool for asserting legitimacy and connecting Bengal to Abbasid-Turkish legacies. The analysis shows how rulers used a mix of Bengali symbols and Islamic motifs on coins to signal sovereignty and local identity. Arabic inscriptions, especially the Kalima and the names of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, were deliberately used to express religious legitimacy and authority. By adopting Abbasid and Turkish titles, Bengal’s rulers aligned themselves with the wider Islamic world, enhancing their stature. The use of Islamic symbols was more than ceremonial; it reinforced the Sultanate’s Islamic character and social cohesion. Overall, Bengal’s coinage illustrates how local and Islamic influences merged to express regional sovereignty within the larger Islamic context.