Shivrai

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]

Shivrai
Maratha Empire
Value1/74 to 1/80 of rupee
CompositionCopper
Years of minting1674 - 1830
Circulation1674 – late 1890s
Obverse
Design"Shri / Raja / Shiv" or "Shri / Raja" in Devanagari script, in three or two rows.
Reverse
DesignChhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows.

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.[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 1/64 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 the 19th century.[2]

Shivaji's Shivrai
Shivaji's Shivrai
Maratha Empire
Value1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee
Diameter23 mm
Thickness4 mm
CompositionCopper
Circulation1674 - 1890s
Obverse
DesignShri / Raja / Shiv in Devanagari script, in three rows.
Design date1674
Reverse
DesignChhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows.
Design date1674

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
Dudandi Shivrai
Maratha Empire
Value1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee
Diameter20 mm
Thickness4 mm
CompositionCopper
Years of mintingMid 18th Century - 1818
CirculationMid 18th to late 19th century
Obverse
DesignShri / Raja in Devanagari script, in two rows. "Shri" is underlined.
Reverse
DesignChhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows.

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
EIC's Shivrai
Company Raj
Value1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee
Mass9.80 g
Diameter19 mm
CompositionCopper
Years of minting1820 - 1830
Circulation1820 - Late 1890s
Obverse
DesignNumeric Fasli year, "Raja" in Devanagari
Reverse
DesignChhatra / 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.[10] The year was given in Fasli era.[9]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shivrai.
  1. Shivaji era copper coins found at construction site
  2. Prabhune, Padmakar (2007). महाराष्ट्रातील चलनाचा इतिहास (History of the coinage of Maharashtra). Pune: Diamond Publications. p. 76. ISBN 978-81-89724-92-4.
  3. Chavan, Vijay (5 March 2019). "State archaeologists warn about fake coins". Pune Mirror. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. "Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Thane, Pt I, Pg 306". Google books. Government Central Press. 1882. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  5. Rare coins will be on display
  6. Coins from Shivaji era main attraction at rare items expo
  7. "मराठा राजघराण्याची नाणी". www.shivrajabhishek.org (in Marathi). Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  8. tamildictionary.org, Tamil. "'Dudandi' Meaning in English - Meanings of Marathi Words in English, English to Marathi Dictionary, Marathi to English Dictionary". marathidictionary.org. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  9. Stevens, Paul (11 April 2008). "The coins of the Bombay Presidency; The Transitional Mints of the Deccan". Oriental Numismatic Society, Newsletter # 181.
  10. "B.E.I.C., Shivarai or Chhatrapati Paisa, struck at Poona 1820 - 1830". ZENO.RU - Oriental Coins Database. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 10 July 2015.


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