1 Mohur – City of Qandahar

In 1793, the city of Qandahar existed within the fractured political landscape of late 18th-century Afghanistan, following the collapse of the Durrani Empire. The city was a contested prize, having recently been seized by Shah Zaman from the Sadozai dynasty after a protracted siege. This instability directly impacted its currency system, which was not autonomous but rather a reflection of broader regional monetary currents. The primary circulating medium was the Kabuli rupee, a silver coin minted in the name of the ruling Shah, though its actual weight and purity could vary significantly. Alongside this, the older Kandahari rupee—a legacy of the city's historical importance as a minting center—likely still circulated but was being superseded.

The currency environment was complex and multidirectional. Due to Qandahar's crucial position on trade routes linking Persia, India, and Central Asia, a multitude of foreign coins competed with local issues. Persian tomans and krans, Mughal rupees, and even Bukharan tillas would have been familiar in the bazaars, their values fluctuating based on metallic content and mercantile demand. This created a dynamic, albeit chaotic, system where money changers (sarraf) were essential economic figures, assessing and exchanging this heterogeneous mix of specie for a fee.

Furthermore, the scarcity of minted coinage was a chronic issue. The city's recent military ordeal and the shifting sovereignty meant that regular and standardized mint production was likely disrupted. Much large-scale trade, therefore, relied on hundis (bills of exchange), while everyday transactions for common citizens might involve cumbersome barter or the use of small, worn silver fragments. Thus, the monetary situation in 1793 Qandahar was characterized by political uncertainty, competing foreign currencies, and a reliance on credit and bullion, mirroring the city's struggle between its illustrious commercial past and its unstable present.