Shivrai Explained

Denomination:Shivrai
Country:Maratha Empire
Composition:Copper
Years Of Minting:1674 - 1830
Circulation:1674 – late 1890s
Value:1/74 to 1/80 of rupee
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 was a copper coin minted during the rule of Marathas[1] and remained in circulation till the end of the 19th century, primarily in the western region of modern-day Maharashtra.[2] [3]

Before 1830s, shivrai was valued at 1/74 to 1/80 of a rupee.[4] There are 150 different types of shivrai extant to date. 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 1/64 of rupee, in currency by eliminating this native rival. In 1890, Rev. Abbott collected and studied around 25,000 shivrais. He mentions that they were still in circulation. The shivrai remained in circulation till the end of the 19th century.

Shivaji's Shivrai

Country:Maratha Empire
Denomination:Shivaji's Shivrai
Obverse:Shivrai 01.jpg
Reverse:Shivrai 02.jpg
Circulation:1674 - 1890s
Value:1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee
Composition:Copper
Obverse Design Date:1674
Reverse Design Date:1674
Obverse Design:Shri / Raja / Shiv in Devanagari script, in three rows.
Reverse Design:Chhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows.
Diameter:23
Thickness:4

When the Maratha warrior Shivaji became Chhatrapati of the Maratha empire,[5] 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.[6] These coins have Shri Raja ShivaChhatrapati, in Devanagari, inscribed on them.

Dudandi Shivrai

Denomination:Dudandi Shivrai
Country:Maratha Empire
Value:1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee
Diameter:20
Composition:Copper
Circulation:Mid 18th to late 19th century
Obverse:Dudandi Shivrai 02.jpg
Reverse:Dudandi Shivrai 01.jpg
Obverse Design:Shri / Raja in Devanagari script, in two rows. "Shri" is underlined.
Reverse Design:Chhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows.
Thickness:4
Years Of Minting:Mid 18th Century - 1818

Dudandi Shivrais (Marathi: दुदांडी शिवराई) were minted during Peshwa period.[7] Dudandi literally means two-bars.[8] 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".

EIC's Shivrai

Denomination:EIC's Shivrai
Country:Company Raj
Value:1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee
Diameter:19
Mass G:9.80
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.

The British East India Company minted Shivrais at Poona during the period of 1820–1830.[9] Unlike Earlier Shivrais, these contained year of minting on it.[10] The dotted collar of earlier Shivrais is also absent. The year was given in Fasli era.

Notes and References

  1. https://archive.today/20130103140056/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-30/pune/28204510_1_coins-shivaji-era-construction-site Shivaji era copper coins found at construction site
  2. Book: Prabhune, Padmakar. महाराष्ट्रातील चलनाचा इतिहास (History of the coinage of Maharashtra). Diamond Publications. 2007. 978-81-89724-92-4. Pune. 76.
  3. Web site: March 5, 2019. Vijay. Chavan. State archaeologists warn about fake coins. 2020-10-23. Pune Mirror. en.
  4. Web site: Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Thane, Pt I, Pg 306.. 1882. 29 June 2015. Google books. Government Central Press.
  5. https://archive.today/20130104041847/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-05-01/mumbai/27142737_1_rare-coins-numismatic-society-three-day-exhibition Rare coins will be on display
  6. https://archive.today/20130103155117/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-09/pune/28048174_1_gold-coins-rare-items-shivaji-era Coins from Shivaji era main attraction at rare items expo
  7. Web site: मराठा राजघराण्याची नाणी . www.shivrajabhishek.org . 24 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150710130421/http://www.shivrajabhishek.org/event_news.php?ne_id=23 . July 10, 2015 . mr.
  8. Web site: 'Dudandi' Meaning in English - Meanings of Marathi Words in English, English to Marathi Dictionary, Marathi to English Dictionary. marathidictionary.org. 2015-07-09. Tamil. tamildictionary.org.
  9. The coins of the Bombay Presidency; The Transitional Mints of the Deccan. Stevens. Paul. 11 Apr 2008. Oriental Numismatic Society, Newsletter # 181.
  10. Web site: B.E.I.C., Shivarai or Chhatrapati Paisa, struck at Poona 1820 - 1830. 10 Jul 2015. 10 Jul 2015. ZENO.RU - Oriental Coins Database.