History of the taka

The taka, also known as the tanka or tangka, was one of the major historical currencies of Asia, particularly in the Indian subcontinent and Tibet.

It was inscribed in numerous languages across different regions, including in Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, Hindustani, Bengali, Nepali, Tibetan and Mandarin.

The tanka was made up of 48 billon jitals containing 2 rattis of silver, mixed with copper, weighing about 3.5 grams in total.

[3] The silver tankas minted in Delhi bear the name of Caliph al-Muntasir and the titles of Iltutmish, typically al-sultān al-a'zam (the very mighty sultan), while the reverse either the shahada, lā ʾilāha ʾillā -llāh' muḥammadun rasūlu llāh ("There is no god but God.

[6] In 1338, Ibn Battuta noticed that the silver taka was the most popular currency in the region instead of the Islamic dinar.

As Bengal became more prosperous and integrated into the world economy under Mughal rule, the taka replaced shell currency in rural areas and became the standardized legal tender.

[10] The tanka standard was introduced in the prosperous Himalayan Kathmandu Valley (Nepal proper) in the 16th century.

The Bengali Language Movement played a decisive role in ensuring the recognition of the taka in East Pakistan.

China's Qing dynasty, Tibet's suzerain,[citation needed] established mints in the region in 1792.

In the 15th century, the Gujarat Sultanate, on the west coast of the Indian subcontinent, began to mint silver tanka.