Paisa of Vagh Rajas of Mehidpur (1740-1817)

[Rangnath]

Or dog, or tiger, or..
The coin is 22 mm across and 11.4 grams.  If the "lion" is on the obverse, then the Julus is on the reverse with a dagger                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The coin is nearly 22 mm across and weighs 11.4 grams. If the "Lion", or Tiger, or dog, or.. whatever is on the obverse, then the dagger and julus are on the reverse.  The arrangement of dagger to Julus reminds me of a coin recently posted on this site.  When I first saw the coin, I thought that perhaps Tipu Sultan was responsible.  I no longer think so.  This animal looks nothing like the mythical bease of Tipu. Any ideas?
Richie                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

[BC Numismatics]

Richie,
  I reckon that this is a Mysorean coin.Tipu Sultan was known as the 'Tiger of Mysore'.Perhaps Jan & Shariq can confirm this.

Aidan.

[shariqkhan]

At the top of first image part of the inscription "Shah Alam" is visible. This may be coin of some native state but not of Tipu(Mysore)

[Oesho]

I have a couple of those paisa's with a lion on it. On some better specimen the name Mehidpur can be read and are accordingly attributed to the Vagh Rajas of Mehidpur (1740-1817)
I will in due course add some illustrations.

[Rangnath]

Thanks for considering this coin. In my web search, I came across a Mehidpur just northwest of Ujjain.  I can not find Mehidpur in the standard catalog.  Was it feudatory to another state? Indore is not far away. Is the coin to be found within the standard catalog? If not, is there a reason why not?
richie

[BC Numismatics]

Jan,
 I've never heard of Mehidpur,as the coins from that state aren't even listed in Krause at all,not that I'm aware of.

Aidan.

[Oesho]

Indian numismatics is always full of surprises. Nevertheless the coins concerned still awaits proper research and publication.

[BC Numismatics]

Jan,
  Perhaps,you could start writing articles about Indian Princely States' coins up on Wikipedia.Their titling of numismatic articles is just plain idiotic though.If you wrote an article titled 'Coins of Hyderabad',someone will change it to 'Coins of the Hyderabadi rupee'.

Aidan.

[shariqkhan]

Lion also found on the coins of Yeshwant Rao Holkar - I of Indore. I don't have any information of separate rule in a small town like Mahidpur. It was under the rule of Maratha.

[shariqkhan]

Please look at this coin of Yeshwant Rao Holkar -I
http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/opac/search/cataloguedetail.html?&priref=101975&_function_=xslt&_limit_=100

Its mint was Mehidpur

One more link to follow
http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/opac/search/cataloguedetail.html?&priref=101974&_function_=xslt&_limit_=100

[Rangnath]

Nice work Shariq!  I will post both of those coins here.
I guess that the question is:
Was Mehidpur minting coins under its own authority or under the instructions of Indore and Yeshwant Rao Holkar -I?
Richie

[shariqkhan]

Mehidpur was under the Holkar Rule and don't think Zamindars had any authority to mint the coins but some expert's opinion is required on this topic.

[Rangnath]

The following are ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING.  They are all from the collection of Oesho, who wrote; The first two are of Mehidpur, as the name is written on them. The other five coins may originate from the same place because of  the (close) similarities in the type of lion depicted on them:

[Rangnath]

This is an amazing education for me.  Not only is this a series not covered in the standard catalog, but one which shows remarkable differences.  I see only one design repeated and the lion has been rendered by multiple artists. Of course the period 1740 to 1817 is a long one.
Thanks so much for doing this Oesho. 

Richie

[shariqkhan]

Please look at this coins also. Although lion on this coin is not very clear but one can easily guess it. The lion on such coins indicates their may be good number of Lions in/around Mehidpur during the rule of of YR-I .