PESHAWAR: Professor Gul Rahim Khan has been awarded the prestigious Oriental Numismatic Society (ONS) Ashoka Prize 2025 in London for the best paper published in the Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society (JONS) during 2025.
His award-winning study, “Attribution of Coins to the Queens of the Utpala Dynasty of Medieval Kashmir” (JONS 260), highlights the historical significance of medieval Kashmiri coinage. “Numismatics is not merely about studying old coins or rare metals; coins are metallic documents that offer authentic evidence where written chronicles fall silent,” Dr. Gul Rahim told local media here on Sunday.
He said that attributing these specific coins to the queens of the Utpala Dynasty helps us re-examine the socio-political status, governance and powerful agency of female rulers in medieval Kashmir, which has often been overlooked in conventional historical narratives.
Prof. Khan described coins as “metallic documents” that provide authentic historical evidence where written records are lacking. A prominent figure in South Asian archaeology, Prof. Gul Rahim Khan has dedicated over three decades to higher education, archaeological exploration and academic leadership. Over the course of his distinguished career, he rose to become a senior Professor in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Peshawar.
He earned his doctorate specialising in ancient coinage and advanced his research through international academic engagements including research work associated with the British Museum in London and initiatives supported by the Smithsonian Institution. This prestigious international recognition reflects Prof. Dr. Gul Rahim Khan’s outstanding contribution to archaeology, numismatics, and South Asian heritage studies.
His achievement not only enriches global academic scholarship but also reinforces the University of Peshawar’s reputation as a center of research excellence. We extend our heartfelt congratulations on this well-deserved honour and hope his success continues to inspire future generations of scholars,” the University of Peshawar said in a statement.
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