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Shivrai
Value1/74th to 1/80th 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.

Shivrai (English: /ʃɪwrɑː/; 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

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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,[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.

Variations in inscriptions on Shivaji's Shivrai
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

Sambhaji's Shivrai, Shambhurai

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Like 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.

Variations in inscriptions on Sambhaji's Shivrai
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

Rajaram's Shivrai

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Shahu's Shivrai

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Ramraja's Shivrai

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Dhabu Alamgiri

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Dudandi Shivrai

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Dudandi Shivrais (Marathi: दुदांडी शिवराई) were minted during Peshwa period.[6] Dudandi literally means two-bars.[7]

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.

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

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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]

EIC's Shivrai
Value1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee
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.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Shivaji era copper coins found at construction site
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Thane, Pt I, Pg 306". Google books. Government Central Press. 1882. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  4. ^ Rare coins will be on display
  5. ^ Coins from Shivaji era main attraction at rare items expo
  6. ^ "http://www.shivrajabhishek.org/event_news.php?ne_id=23". www.shivrajabhishek.org. Retrieved 2015-07-09. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b Stevens, Paul (11 Apr 2008). "The coins of the Bombay Presidency; The Transitional Mints of the Deccan". Oriental Numismatic Society, Newsletter # 181.
  9. ^ 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