Awadh, Muhammad Ali Shah (AH 1253-1258 / 1837-1842 AD), Gold Ashrafi, AH 1253 / RY ,  Subah Awadh Dar-al Sultanat Lakhnau Mint, (Wt: 10.79 grams, Dia: 26.90 mm)

Obv:
Two female attendants standing holding crown, fish below, legends around “Zarb Suba Awadh Dar-al Sultanat Lakhnau sanah Ahd Jalus maimanat manus”.

Rev:
Persian Legends “sikka dar jahan ba jud-o-karam Muhammad Ali shah-e zaman”

Muhammad Ali Shah ascended the throne of Awadh in 1837 following the death of Nasiruddin Haidar and a disputed succession resolved through British intervention. His brief reign is remembered for its architectural patronage, particularly the magnificent Husainabad Imambara, or Chhota Imambara, which remains one of Lucknow’s most celebrated royal monuments. This gold ashrafi expresses the royal identity of Awadh through an elaborate heraldic composition, two attendants supporting a crown above a fish, combining symbols of kingship with the state’s distinctive emblem. The inscription names Lucknow as the royal capital, while “sanah ahad” identifies the first regnal year, placing the issue at the beginning of Muhammad Ali Shah’s reign. Comparable first-year ashrafis are recorded with the date AH 1253.