Home > Indian History > History of India > Coins of Sikh Rulers
Coins of Sikh Rulers
Coins of Sikh rulers were both a commercial necessity and a symbol of sovereignty.

Share this Article:

Nanakshah coinsThe coins of Sikh commenced in the second half of the eighteenth century. It reached its culmination during the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and ended abruptly with the annexation of the Punjab by the British in 1849. The Sikhs struck coins in about 20 mints and there coinage remained quite uniform until the end. Their rupees bore religious legends and never mention their issuer. The major centre of economy and religion, Amritsar, produced the most complex system of mintmarks in modern India.

It had been said that the Punjabi word for coin, `sikka`, is borrowed from Persia where it means both "a die for coining" and "rule, law, regulation." The traditional Sikh coins, were dedicated to the religious Sikh Gurus. The year of issuing of the coins was of the Bikrami era as they carry the dates of the year. The script and language used in the coins were Persian. The repeated invasions of the Punjab by Ahmad Shah Durrani led to the formation of the Sikh league which is known as `Khalsa`. In 1710, the capital of Ahmad Shah was sacked and Banda had taken on possession of the leadership of Khalsa. He established a new era beginning with the victory at Sirhind and issued coins. The coins bore the Persian legend containing the fact that `coin current in both the worlds; the sword of Nanak is the provider; and Guru Govind Singh, the king of kings, is by grace, the lord`. This is incised on the obverse of the coin and `Zarb aminuddahar Maswarat-Shahar Zinatultakht Mubarak bakht (coined at the protector, the walled city, the ornament of the blessed throne) was etched on the reverse side of the coin. This coin was issued from the bastion of Banda Singh Bahadur from Mukhlisgarh in the Sivalik foothills.

maharaja Ranjit-Singh After half a century, Sardar Jassa Singh Ahluvalia received the epithet of Sultan ul-qaum meaning the nation`s king. He temporarily occupied Lahore in 1761and was the leader of Dal Khalsa, the confederated Sikh force. During this time he issued coins. Jassa Kalal occupied the territory of Ahmad Shah Durrani and issued coins that bore a couplet. No coin of this type had so far been seen. The legend depicted that only twenty one coins of this type were made by the Qazis and Mullas and were sent to Ahmad Shah Durrani to turn him against the Sikhs. According to some historians, they were really issued by Jassa Singh, a Sikh leader to commemorate his victory over the Durranis at Lahore. They were later withdrawn in 1764 by a decree of the Sikh Guru mata. In 1777, coins from Amritsar were issued that were termed as Nanak Shahi. The legend on the obverse was very much similar to that issued by Banda on his coins. There was a new legend, `Zab Sri Ambrastsar julus-i-takht Akala sambat` followed by the date in the Vikrama era. In 1767, the grandson of Raja Ala Singh, Amar Singh got the permission to strike his own coins. The Patiala coins, gold mohar and silver rupee, were called `Rajeshahi`. The coins bore a Persian distich commemorating Ahmad Shah Durrani. According to Charles J. Rodgers, Honorary Numismatist to the Government of India, "All the Maharajas of Patiala have used the same couplet in their gold and silver coins. Different Maharajas have used different signs, and it is by these that the coins are assigned to those who struck them....One strange thing is noteworthy. The mint is in Patiala city, but the name of the mint coming on the coin is Sarhind or Sahrind. When we consider that the Maharaja is a Sikh and the Sikhs account Sarhind accursed... the retention of the name seems stranger still. Ahmad Shah Durrani coined in this town, and that is perhaps the reason its name is retained on Patiala coins."

Ranjit-Singh-coin After occupying Lahore in1799, Ranjit Singh, in 1801, announced himself the emperor of the place. During his ruling period, Ranjit Singh started issuing coins. Some coins contained Persian legend and some with Guru Gurumukhi script. Ranjit Singh issued `Moranshahi` or `Arsi di Mohar Vale` coin in 1806-07, in honour of his favourite dancing girl whom he took as one of his queens. Akal Takht did not accept the offering made of these coins. Ranjit Singh instead of using his name on the coins used the Sikh couplet that was the connotation of `abundance, the sword, victory and help, without delay Guru Govind Singh obtained from Nanak. These coins appeared regularly from Lahore and Amritsar throughout his reign, from Multan after 1818 and from Kashmir after 1819. These coins bore the same inscription as had appeared earlier on the Gobindshahi coins. The coins issued by Ranjit Singh were called `Nanakshahi` which were distinguished from a tree leaf and a peacock`s feather. Ranjit Singh instead of using his name on the coins used the Sikh couplet that was the connotation of `abundance, the sword, victory and help, without delay Guru Govind Singh obtained from Nanak. These coins appeared regularly from Lahore and Amritsar throughout his reign, from Multan after 1818 and from Kashmir after 1819. These coins bore the same inscription as had appeared earlier on the Gobindshahi coins. Ranjit Singh introduced coins with the Gurumukhi script in about 1827. A few gold and silver coins are of this type were known, although most of the coins were name of copper. `Akala Sahai Guru Nanak` was generally found on the coins and those coins were issued from Amritsar. From 1828 onwards the Lahore mint issued gold mohars which were termed as `butkis`. Those were made of pure gold, and had, in addition to the usual distich and legend, the word vahiguru (Sikh name for God) written thrice over in Gurmukhi letters. The rupee coin contained a similar quantity of silver and on the other hand coins of lower denominations like `dhela` or `taka` and `paisa` were made of copper. Sardar Hari Singh Nalva got the permission to issue coins in his name, first in 1831 in Kashmir and then in1834 at Peshawar.

The coins issued by Ranjit Singh were called `Nanakshahi` which were distinguished from a tree leaf and a peacock`s feather. Likewise, Maharaja Sher Singh issued coins in 1841-43, which were not accepted at the Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur, as offering. The coins with the Persian couplet continued to be struck after Ranjit Singh`s death, till 1848. A few rupees were also known from Peshawar and Pind Dadan Khan. During the years 1861 to 1863 first a peacock tail and hen a thumb mirror appeared on the Amritsar rupees.

Moreover, the coins of Sikhs were created till the reign of the Sikh rulers and in different times he kings and rulers issued coins. During the reign of Ahmad Shah Durrani, who had created the State of Patiala, installed a Maharaja in the state. Since then, all maharajas of the state, who issued coins, used the Durrani Persian couplet. Different symbols were included to distinguish different issues. Maler Kotla also followed the same pattern for its icons, but instead of using symbols, it used the initials of the issuers. Jhind, Nabha and Kaital and the Dorga Rajas of Kashmir after 1846 issued their coins with the Persian couplets of Ranjit Singh`s coins. The coins of the Jhind state were similar to the coins of Patiala in weight and same couplets were also used on the coins. Those coins were known as `Jindia`. `Nabha` coins that were the gold mohur and silver rupee were termed as `Nabhashahi`. These coins bore the couplet `deg tegh fatah` and it appeared on the `Nanakshahi` and even on `Gobindshahi` coins.

The rulers of Kapurthala did not strike their own coins and Nanakshahi and, later, British coins were prevalent there. Coins minted in different states were legal only within their territories. These coins were sometimes accepted in neighbouring markets close to the state boundaries. Some of the coins of Dorga of Kashmir bore the letters I.H.S, the Christian monogram.


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India

History of Indian Drama
History of Indian Drama is rich with Vedas and Indian epics and has gradually changed with time and remains unaffected by any foreign influence.
History of Khajuraho Temple
Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is country’s most magnificent groups of temples.
History of Ayurveda
History of Ayurveda dates back to 5,000 years old and is widely considered to be the oldest form of health care in the world.
History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History of Indian Photography
An overview of the development of photography, through the various stages in India.
History of Delhi
History of Delhi began with the advent of Indian regal dynasties. Delhi witnessed the rise and fall of Hindu dynasties, Muslims and the British as well.
History of Indian Radio
History of Indian Radio dates back to late 1930s with the first establishment of All India Radio in 1936 that improved further after independence.
History of Punjab
History of Punjab dates back to the 16th century; however its formation is traced in the great epic Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
History of Maharashtra
Maharashtra, the land of charismatic Marathas, unfolds the legend of diverse culture and tradition, keeping in pace with the modernity. The gallant history of Maharashtra is still echoed amidst its historical relics and archeological wonders.
History of Kerala
History of Kerala can be interpreted from the inscriptions of Ashoka, Mauryan Emperor. History of Kerala is as interesting as its wide-ranging geographical features that make the land a place of versatile appeal.
History of Bihar
History of Bihar goes back to the very dawn of the human civilizations. Many eminent personalities and leaders from Bihar contributed for India’s freedom struggle.
History of Assam
In the ancient Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Assam was known as `Kamarupa` or `Pragjyotish`. In the Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Tantras there are references of Assam as Kamrupa kingdom.
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dates back to the settlement of the East India Company in the territory of the Islands.
History of West Bengal
History of West Bengal is rooted in richness and is an important episode in the history of India. The history of Bengal played an important role in shaping the history of India.
History of Jharkhand
One of the fairly newer states, Jharkhand was carved out of the southern portion of Bihar in 2000. The history of Jharkhand is seeped with a variety of cultural significances starting from the Vedic era to Mughal period and finally the British administration.
History of Sikkim
History of Sikkim declares the pre historic culture and the colonial era hilly politics and the rules of Sikkim.
History of Nagaland
The history of Nagaland mainly revolves around and deals with the customs and economic activities of the Naga Tribes and how the state has evolved since the Indian Independence.
History of Mizoram
History of Mizoram includes the various historical events and incidents which occurred during the various ages, right from before the age of the Mughals.
History of Jammu & Kashmir
History of Jammu and Kashmir involves a series of political and geographical transformations from every ancient era to the modern times also. Even now, Jammu and Kashmir has its political tension between Pakistan and India.
History of Puducherry
Puducherry was invaded by different invaders in different times. The invaders include Pallava Kingdom of Kanchipuram, dynasties of the South, Cholas of Thanjavur, Pandyas and Muslim invaders.
History of Chandigarh
In 1947, the British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Punjab was also included in this partition. So, there was a need for a new capital for Punjab, as the old capital Lahore became part of Pakistan during the partition. So, in 1948, under the leadership of chief architect Mr. P.L. Verma the construction of Chandigarh city began.
History of Daman and Diu
During the early stage, i.e. from 8th to 13th century, Daman and Diu was part of Goa.
History of Lakshadweep
History of Lakshadweep defines the first settlement on these islands under the Union Territory of India that was ruled by Cheraman Perumal, who was the last king of Kerala.
History of Karnataka
History of Karnataka comprised of the different rulers of different dynasties of various religions like Hindus, Buddhists, and later the Muslims.
History of Goa
History of Goa dates back to the 3rd century BC and reflects the rule of the mighty rulers and gained its independence under Jawaharlal Nehru.
History of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh possesses a rich historical heritage of culture of the ancient tribes. Being a bordering state of India, Arunachal Pradesh also has a history of military unrest since ancient Indian age.
History of Andhra Pradesh
History of Andhra Pradesh traces its origin back to the 5th century BC. According to the inscriptions, Kuberaka, the oldest Kingdom in South India had an empire in the coastal Andhra during that period.
History of Himachal Pradesh
History of Himachal Pradesh narrates about the various settlements and dynasties that emerged in the region over time.
History of Uttarakhand
History of Uttarakhand finds mention in the early Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manaskhand and Himavat. Uttarakhand is called as the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places and shrines.
History of Rajasthan
The history of Rajasthan is dotted with tales of valor, chivalry, camaraderie and romance.
History of Tamil Nadu
History of Tamil Nadu reveals that this ancient place in South India was ruled by various kingdoms like the Pandyas Dynasty, Cholas Dynasty, Nayakas Dynasty and Pallavas Dynasty.
History of Haryana
History of Haryana depicts various events and influences that have cast a profound effect on the culture and people of the district. The place gained statehood on 1st of November 1966
History of Odisha
History of Odisha goes back a rather long way. Most of the history of the state is replete with the dynastic as well as tribal struggle for territorial superiority. Odisha is a place where one can find the religion, culture and history flow in away that lead to cultural amalgamation of early India.
History of Manipur
History of Manipur can be traced back to the prehistoric ages and this was followed by a number of rulers who reigned the land from age to age till it came under British rule and later joined the union of India.
History of Gujarat
History of Gujarat can be dated back to the 14th century that later witnessed the supremacy of many powerful dynasties.
History of Tripura
History of Tripura is dealing with the early mythological history and the history of British rule in North eastern part of India.
History of Meghalaya
The history of Meghalaya predominantly comprises of the three tribes of the state- Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribes. Later on Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam.
History of Chhattisgarh
History of Chhattisgarh dates back to the era of epics and traces through the reign of powerful dynasties in India like Marathas. The area developed a rich cultural heritage during British era.