Gwalior - Unlisted Rupee of Baija Bai - Gwalior Fort Mint

Started by Abhay, December 14, 2009, 04:45:51 PM

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Abhay

This coin looks like Daulat Rao Coin of Gwalior Fort (Type LW 08 Page 45), but the difference is in the Year. This coin is dated AH1244 RY 23, which is the year for Baija Bai. Both coins listed in Lingen and Wiggins for Baija Bai have "shree" on them, but this coin is without "shree". So, most probably, this is a new type of Baija Bai coin from Gwalior Fort type.

Abhay
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Rangnath

Of course, I await Oesho's analysis, but your logic seems flawless to me.  I think that, indeed, you have one cool coin engipress.  Fantastic!
richie

Oesho

Daulat Rao died on 21 March 1827 at Laskar, leaving no son or adopted heir. His nearest kinsman, Magat Rao (born 1815), was adopted on 17 June 1827 and ascended the gadi on the next day under the name of Jankoji Rao Sindhia. Difficulties then arose as to whether the widow of Daulat Rao, Baija Bai, should rule in her own right or as regent. The latter course was adopted but Baija Bai, anxious to retain the powers of Regent during her lifetime kept the young Maharaja under such restraints that he absconded and took refuge with the British Resident. Jankoji Reigned under the regency of Maharani Baijabai until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers in December 1832.
Baija Bai's rule was unpopular and such was public feeling against her that she finally fled to British territory. She returned after an interval and lived at Gwalior until her death in 1862.

AH1244 commences 14-07-1828; Ry. 23 ends 12-03-1829. This indicates that the coin was struck after the dead of Daulat Rao, and also after Jankoji ascension to the gadi on the 28th of June 1827. Baija Bai acted as Regent till the end of 1832. The coin was thus struck under Baija Bai, but it is an issue without Shri. Until the regency of Baija Bai it was not customary to add the ruler's symbol or initial to the coin. Baija Bai was the first to add the symbol Shri on the flan. When this feature was introduced is not known, but from this coin it is proved that in the beginning of Baija Bai's regency, no symbol was added.

Rangnath

Thanks Oesho. In a study of Gwalior rulers' symbols on coinage, engipress's coin is a pivotal one, isn't it?
I gather that with Jankoji having fled, Baijabai was left in a precarious position of being a regent without a prince. Was it this fact or incompetence or both that was responsible for her lack of popularity? 

richie

Abhay

Thanks a lot, Oesho and Richie. This coin just came to me casually, in a lot of 20 mixed silver coins of Indian Princely states, at very cheap price, almost silver value in weight.

Abhay
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asm

Abhay,
You sure are lucky. To get the coin at silver value (or almost silver value) needs a bit of Luck now that the smaller jewellers have also come to realise the value of coins, and to get such a coin is double luck. Best wishes for further discoveries.
Amit
"It Is Better To Light A Candle Than To Curse The Darkness"

Rangnath