Princely State of Indore - Shivaji Rao Holkar Coins

Shivaji Rao

Indore State, also known as Holkar State was a royal state in India. Its rulers belonged to the Holkar dynasty. Indore was a 19-gun salute Maratha princely state (a rare high rank) during the British rule in India. Indore state was located in the present-day Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The capital of the state was the city of Indore.

Maharajadhiraja Raj Rajeshwar Sawai Shri Sir Shivaji Rao Holkar Bahadur XII (Indore, 11 November 1859 – Maheshwar, 13 October 1908) was the Maharaja of Indore (Holkar State) belonging to the Holkar dynasty of the Marathas. He was the son of Tukojirao Holkar II and Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Parvati Bai Sahib. 

Being born and brought up in Indore, I was always fascinated by the Holkars, The former rulers of the land I was raised upon. 

My quest to know more about the history of rulers of Indore, lead me to stumble upon the coins of His Highness Shivaji Rao.

Fortunately, I got 2 coins of Shivaji Rao added to my coin collection though the condition is not that good, still, they are dear to me as they tell the story of 130+ years ago. Interestingly the currency of the Indore state was replaced in 1902 by the currency of British India, thus the coins of Shivaji Rao are one of the last coins of the Great Indore state.

Late 19th Century Photography of Shivaji Rao by Lala Deen Dayal

Below are the pics of the ¼ Anna of the Shivaji Rao Copper Coins in my collection.

¼ Anna of the Shivaji Rao Description

• Country: Princely state of Indore (India - Princely states)
• Type: Standard circulation coin
• Years: 1943-1945 (1886-1888)
• Calendar: Vikram Samvat
• Value: 1/4 Anna (1/64)
• Currency: Rupee (1760-1935)
• Composition: Copper
• Weight:6.026 g
• Shape: Round

1. ¼ Anna of the Shivaji Rao 1886 AD, VS 1943.

Obverse

• Continuous legend, Bull reclining left,
• The legend in Devnagari surrounds
• Lettering: श्रीमंत महाराज होलकर सरकार इंदोर
• Translation: Shrimant Maharaj Holkar Sarkar Indore

Reverse

• VS date below value in Devnagari, wreath surrounds
• Lettering:
• पाव
• आना स
• १९४३
• Translation:
• Quarter Anna
• Year VS 1943

2. ¼ Anna of the Shivaji Rao AD 1887, VS 1944.

Obverse

• Continuous legend, Bull reclining left,
• The legend in Devnagari surrounds
• Lettering: श्रीमंत महाराज होलकर सरकार इंदोर
• Translation: Shrimant Maharaj Holkar Sarkar Indore

Reverse

• VS date below value in Devnagari, wreath surrounds
• Lettering:
• पाव
• आना स
• १९४४
• Translation:
• Quarter Anna
• Year VS 1944

If you have any coins of Princely State of Indore or of Royal Holkars, Do post it in the comments.