Tomars of Gwalior, Maan Singh Tomar (1486-1516 AD), SIlver Tanka, 3.47 gms, AH 967(crude), Obv. Nagari legends within square ‘Man Singh’ with persian legends around, Rev. persian legends copying lodhi’s coinage & date, very fine+, exceedingly rare. Note: Raja Man Singh Tomar (reigned 1486–1516 CE) was the most illustrious monarch of the Tomar Rajput dynasty of Gwalior, whose three-decade rule inaugurated the "Golden Age" of the principality. Through astute governance, he transformed Gwalior into both an unyielding military bastion and the cultural and musical epicentre of Northern India. A significant portion of Man Singh’s sovereignty was defined by his relentless defense against the expansionist ambitions of the Delhi Sultanate. He successfully thwarted multiple incursions by Sultan Bahlul Lodi and his successor, Sikandar Lodi, who sought control over the strategically vital Gwalior Fort. Whenever military confrontation proved unviable, the Raja deployed calculated diplomacy and sent monetary tributes to preserve Gwalior’s autonomy. However, this protracted geopolitical tension culminated in 1516 CE when Ibrahim Lodi, Sikandar's successor, launched a massive siege against the fortress. Man Singh tragically passed away during the course of this prolonged military conflict, after which his son and successor, Vikramaditya, ultimately capitulated the fort a year later. Beyond his martial prowess, Man Singh was a profound musicologist and a revolutionary patron of the arts. He is widely credited with the codification and popularisation of Dhrupad, one of the oldest surviving genres of Hindustani classical music, adapting its rigorous structure to suit the evolving aesthetics of his era. To institutionalise this cultural renaissance, he established a prestigious academy of classical music within his court and convened monumental musicological conferences. Under his royal aegis, the Gwalior court nurtured legendary maestros such as Swami Haridas and Baiju Bawra, alongside the musical progenitors of Tansen, who imbibed Gwalior's rich cultural heritage before eventually gracing the imperial court of Emperor Akbar.