1 Habibi – Saqqawist Emirate
Afghanistan
Context
Year: 1928
Islamic (Hijri) Year: 1347
Country: Afghanistan 
Issuer: Saqqawist Emirate
Ruler: Habibullah Kalakani
Currency:
(1891—1923)
Demonetized: Yes
Material
References
KM: #Click to copy to clipboard899
Numista: #360595
Mintings
| Year | Mint Mark | Mintage | Quality | Collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | — | — |
Historical background
The Saqqawist Emirate, a short-lived state under Habibullah Kalakani from January to October 1929, did not have a formal currency system in 1928, as it did not yet exist. The year 1928 was instead a period of simmering rebellion and preparation. Kalakani, a Tajik bandit-leader, was amassing support in the mountainous regions north of Kabul, capitalizing on widespread resentment against the modernizing and centralizing reforms of King Amanullah Khan. The financial context was one of severe strain on the central government's treasury due to Amanullah's ambitious projects, leading to increased taxation that further alienated the rural and religious conservative population. This economic discontent was a key catalyst for the uprising that would erupt in late 1928.
When the Saqqawists captured Kabul in January 1929, they inherited a currency system in chaos. The official currency was the Afghan rupee, but Amanullah's government had recently introduced a new, unpopular coinage as part of his reforms. More critically, the civil war had shattered public confidence, and Kalakani's regime lacked the administrative capacity, precious metals, and international recognition to issue credible new money. His government was essentially bankrupt from the outset, unable to pay its soldiers regularly, which led to rampant looting and the rapid erosion of its tenuous authority.
Consequently, the "currency situation" during the emirate's existence was defined by improvisation and disorder. The Saqqawist administration primarily used existing coins from previous reigns, but their legitimacy and value fluctuated wildly based on the shifting fortunes of war. Older, more trusted coins from the reign of Habibullah Khan (1901-1919) likely circulated alongside Amanullah's newer issues, but all were undermined by hyperinflation and severe shortages. The real economy reverted to barter in many areas, while the rival government of Mohammed Nadir Khan in the south controlled the mint and eventually introduced the currency that would stabilize Afghanistan after the emirate's fall in October 1929.
When the Saqqawists captured Kabul in January 1929, they inherited a currency system in chaos. The official currency was the Afghan rupee, but Amanullah's government had recently introduced a new, unpopular coinage as part of his reforms. More critically, the civil war had shattered public confidence, and Kalakani's regime lacked the administrative capacity, precious metals, and international recognition to issue credible new money. His government was essentially bankrupt from the outset, unable to pay its soldiers regularly, which led to rampant looting and the rapid erosion of its tenuous authority.
Consequently, the "currency situation" during the emirate's existence was defined by improvisation and disorder. The Saqqawist administration primarily used existing coins from previous reigns, but their legitimacy and value fluctuated wildly based on the shifting fortunes of war. Older, more trusted coins from the reign of Habibullah Khan (1901-1919) likely circulated alongside Amanullah's newer issues, but all were undermined by hyperinflation and severe shortages. The real economy reverted to barter in many areas, while the rival government of Mohammed Nadir Khan in the south controlled the mint and eventually introduced the currency that would stabilize Afghanistan after the emirate's fall in October 1929.
✨ Legendary