Influenced by Shēr Shah, the sultan of the Suri Empire, Mughal Emperor Akbar introduced a tri-metallic currency with coins - dams, rupees and mohurs - made out of copper, silver and gold respectively. Dams were the small, basic coins used for small payments in the 16th century, but by the 17th century silver rupees were more commonly used.
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Akbar reformed the empire’s currency and consolidated imperial control over the coinage, developing a centralised, uniform monetary system. Imperial mints were established in a number of important cities including Lahore, Delhi and Agra, and only imperial coins could be used to pay taxes. It was also the coinage used to pay the regime’s officials and soldiers. Importantly, these coins were only valid if they bore the name of the current Mughal emperor.