Value | 1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee |
---|---|
Composition | Copper |
Years of minting | 1674 - 1830 |
Circulation | 1674 - Late 1890s |
Obverse | |
Design | "Shri / Raja / Shiv" or "Shri / Raja" in Devanagari script, in three or two rows. |
Reverse | |
Design | Chhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows. |
Shivrai (English: /ʃɪwrɑːiː/; मराठी Marāṭhī [ʃiʋrai:];) was a copper coin minted during the rule of Marathas[1] and remained in circulation till the end of 19th century, primarily in the Bombay Presidency region.[2]
Before 1830s, Shivrai was valued at 1/74th to 1/80th of a Rupee.[3] There are 150 different types of Shivrai extant till date.[2] In 1885 the British government ordered all local revenue collectors (Mamlatdars) to collect all Shivrais and deposit them in treasury. The purpose of this was to bring the new pice, worth 1/64th of Rupee, in currency by eliminating this native rival.[2] In 1890, Rev. Abbott collected and studied around 25,000 Shivrais. He mentions that they were still in circulation.[2] The Shivrai remained in circulation till the end of 19th century.[2]
Shivaji's Shivrai
editMaratha Empire | |
Value | 1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee |
---|---|
Diameter | 23 mm |
Thickness | 4 mm |
Composition | Copper |
Circulation | 1674 - 1890s |
Obverse | |
Design | Shri / Raja / Shiv in Devanagari script, in three rows. |
Design date | 1674 |
Reverse | |
Design | Chhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows. |
Design date | 1674 |
When the Maratha warrior Shivaji became Chhatrapati of the Maratha empire,[4] as a symbol of sovereignty, the Rajyaabhisheka Shaka (The Coronation Era) was started. On the occasion of coronation, special coins were minted, including a gold coin called Shivrai Hon.[5] These coins have Shri Raja ShivaChhatrapati, in Devanagari, inscribed on them.
Variations to the text exist.
Obverse | Reverse | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Devanagari | Transliteration | IPA Marathi | Devanagari | Transliteration | IPA Marathi | |
1 | श्री / राजा / शिव | Shree / Raja / Shiv | ʃriː / rɑːdʒɑː / ʃɪw | छत्र / पति | Chhatra / Pati | tʃʰət̪rə / pət̪i |
2 | श्री / राजा / शिव | Shree / Raja / Shiv | ʃriː / rɑːdʒɑː / ʃɪw | छत्र / पती | Chhatra / Patee | tʃʰət̪rə / pət̪ī |
3 | श्री / राजा / शीव | Shree / Raja / Sheev | ʃriː / rɑːdʒɑː / ʃiːw | छत्र / पति | Chhatra / Pati | tʃʰət̪rə / pət̪i |
4 | श्री / राजा / शीव | Shree / Raja / Sheev | ʃriː / rɑːdʒɑː / ʃiːw | छत्र / पती | Chhatra / Patee | tʃʰət̪rə / pət̪ī |
5 | श्री / राजा / सिव | Shree / Raja / Siv | ʃriː / rɑːdʒɑː / sɪw | छत्र / पति | Chhatra / Pati | tʃʰət̪rə / pət̪i |
6 | श्री / राजा / सिवा | Shree / Raja / Siva | ʃriː / rɑːdʒɑː / sɪwɑː | छत्र / पती | Chhatra / Patee | tʃʰət̪rə / pət̪ī |
7 | श्री / राजा / सीव | Shree / Raja / Seev | ʃriː / rɑːdʒɑː / siːw | छत्र / पति | Chhatra / Pati | tʃʰət̪rə / pət̪i |
8 | श्री / राजा / सीव | Shree / Raja / Seev | ʃriː / rɑːdʒɑː / siːw | छत्र / पती | Chhatra / Patee | tʃʰət̪rə / pət̪ī |
- Sample Shivrais
-
Amongst the first Shivrais to be published. Excavated in Kanauj.
-
Amongst the first Shivrais to be published. Excavated in Kanauj.
-
This Shivrai shows crescent moon to the right of Shri.
-
Two suns, possibly stars, flank the Shri
Sambhaji's Shivrai, Shambhurai
editLike his father, Sambhaji also minted his own coins. These Shivrais are sometimes retronymically called Shambhurais. These coins show visual continuity with Shivaji's Shivrai coins. Sambhaji's Shivrais are rare and few.
Like his predecessor, Shambhaji's coins also display variations in their text.
Obverse | Reverse | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Devanagari | Transliteration | IPA Marathi | Devanagari | Transliteration | IPA Marathi | |
1 | श्री / राजा / शंभू | Shree / Raja / Shambhu | ʃriː / rɑːdʒɑː / ʃəmbʱu: | छत्र / पति | Chhatra / Pati | tʃʰət̪rə / pət̪i |
2 | श्री रा / जा शं / भू | Shree Ra / Ja Sham / Bhu | ʃriː rɑː / dʒɑː ʃəm / bʱu: | छत्र / पति | Chhatra / Pati | tʃʰət̪rə / pət̪ī |
3 | श्री राजा / शंभू | Shri Raja / Shambhu | ʃriː rɑːdʒɑː / ʃəmbʱu: | छत्र / पति | Chhatra / Pati | tʃʰət̪rə / pət̪i |
-
Sambhaji's Shivrai, Obverse
-
Sambhaji's Shivrai, Reverse
Rajaram's Shivrai
editShahu's Shivrai
editRamraja's Shivrai
editDhabu Alamgiri
editDudandi Shivrai
editDudandi Shivrais (Marathi: दुदांडी शिवराई) were minted during Peshwa period.[6] Dudandi literally means two-bars.[7]
The "Shri" at the top of the obverse is underlined. This horizontal line, combined with the horizontal heading line of the word "Raja", gives us an impression of "Double bars", hence the term "Dudandi".
The British East India Company minted Shivrais at Poona during the period of 1820-1830.[8] Unlike Earlier Shivrais, these contained year of minting on it.[9] The year was given in Fasli era.[8] The dotted collar of earlier Shivrais is also absent.[9]
Value | 1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee |
---|---|
Diameter | 19 mm |
Composition | Copper |
Years of minting | 1820 - 1830 |
Circulation | 1820 - Late 1890s |
Obverse | |
Design | Numeric Fasli year, "Raja" in Devanagari |
Reverse | |
Design | Chhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows. |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Shivaji era copper coins found at construction site
- ^ a b c d e Prabhune, Padmakar (2007). महाराष्ट्रातील चलनाचा इतिहास (History of the coinage of Maharashtra). Pune: Diamond Publications. p. 76. ISBN 978-81-89724-92-4.
- ^ "Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Thane, Pt I, Pg 306". Google books. Government Central Press. 1882. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ Rare coins will be on display
- ^ Coins from Shivaji era main attraction at rare items expo
- ^ "http://www.shivrajabhishek.org/event_news.php?ne_id=23". www.shivrajabhishek.org. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
{{cite web}}
: External link in
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- ^ tamildictionary.org, Tamil. "'Dudandi' Meaning in English - Meanings of Marathi Words in English, English to Marathi Dictionary, Marathi to English Dictionary". marathidictionary.org. Retrieved 2015-07-09.
- ^ a b Stevens, Paul (11 Apr 2008). "The coins of the Bombay Presidency; The Transitional Mints of the Deccan". Oriental Numismatic Society, Newsletter # 181.
- ^ a b "B.E.I.C., Shivarai or Chhatrapati Paisa, struck at Poona 1820 - 1830". ZENO.RU - Oriental Coins Database. 10 Jul 2015. Retrieved 10 Jul 2015.
Category:History of India Category:Coins of India Category:Shivaji