Blogs

Kutch Princely State

Edward VIII, George V, George VI, Khengarji

Silver Coins, Antique silver coins, Old coins, Kutch Coins

From 1835 – when the East India Company introduced uniform coinage in India, to 1947 – when Indian won her freedom, the silver rupee remained almost the same in size and weight (and silver content, except for once!). However, the design of the coin would change every-time the ruler changed – and sometimes even under the same ruler. The first uniform coins of 1835 were issued by the East India Company, featuring William IIII. This was followed in 1840 by Victoria Queen coins – with two different heads. The coins can also be differentiated by the legend ‘Victoria Queen’ –...

 Silver rupees of Alwar and Bikanir (as it was then spelled) are unique among Indian princely states as they are based on the uniform British India coins, but have some features of the local kingdom as well. The silver rupees of Alwar and Bikanir are the same size, weight and silver content as the British India Rupee. Moreover, the ‘heads’ side featured the regular portrait of Queen Victoria, making them indistinguishable from any other coin. It was the reverse where the name of the state and its ruler featured. Alwar coins were first minted in Calcutta in 1877 –...

Fate of the Fiat… Vivek Bhandari, June 2019    Picture 1 - Yugoslav 500Bn currency note Last month my daughter asked me to buy high denomination, defunct currency notes from certain east European, African and south American countries for a project. Of course I had read about hyperinflation in college. I do remember the turbulence in the Balkans in the early nineties. I also know that a number of governments and by extension their currencies have failed in the twentieth century. That said, I was still unprepared for the denominations that started jumping out at me. Right from hundreds of...