© Dr. Abhishek Chatterjee
© Dr. Abhishek Chatterjee
1 Rupee - Muhammad Shah Transitional mint - Belgaum
1821 year| Silver | 11.4 g | 20.5 mm |
| Issuer | Bombay Presidency (British India) |
|---|---|
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Year | 1821 |
| Value | 1 Rupee |
| Currency | Rupee (1672-1835) |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 11.4 g |
| Diameter | 20.5 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-05 |
| Numista | N#72491 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 95% |
Reverse
Legend in stylized Urdu: Zarb Azamnagar Sanah julus maimanat manus
Translation: Struck at Azamnagar during tranquil prosperous reign
Edge
Plain
Comment
- Although mint name on coin is Azamnagar, the coin was struck at the Belgaum-Shahpur mint (Transitional mint)- The third Anglo - Maratha war (known as the Pindari war) ended in 1818 with the defeat of the Marathas at the hands of the British East India Company forces led by Governor General Hastings. The area in and around Bagalkot and Belgaum (in present day Karnataka state) was within the Bombay Presidency of the EIC, this coin was issued by them in 1821 (after the war ended in 1818).
- The coin was issued in the name of Muhammad Shah, who died in 1748. It was an EIC practice at the time, to issue coins in the name of known rulers so the coin would have local acceptance.
- Cataloged in Maheshwari Wiggins as Maratha Mints and Coinage, Belgaum-Shahpur #T3
Interesting fact
The 1 Rupee coin minted in 1821 during the reign of Muhammad Shah (Transitional mint - Belgaum) was part of a series of coins minted during the British India era that featured the ruler's name and title in Urdu, rather than the traditional Hindu or Persian scripts used in previous coinage. This change in language was a result of the British East India Company's efforts to standardize coinage across their territories in India and make it more accessible to the general population.
