India (Indore): Shivaji Rao – 1943 – 1960 VS (1886 – 1903 AD) – 1/2 Anna 1944 VS (1887 AD) KM # 34.2 or 35.1

India (Indore): Shivaji Rao - 1943 - 1960 VS (1886 - 1903 AD) - 1/2 Anna 1944 VS (1887 AD) KM # 34.2 or 35.1 (obv.)

India (Indore): Shivaji Rao - 1943 - 1960 VS (1886 - 1903 AD) - 1/2 Anna 1944 VS (1887 AD) KM # 34.2 or 35.1 (rev.)

Indore: A Brief History

The Holkars were one of the three dominant Maratha powers (with the Peshwas and Sindhias), with major landholdings in Central India. Indore State originated in 1728 with a grant of land north of the Narbada river by the Maratha Peshwa of Poona to Malhar Rao Holkar, a cavalry commander in his service. After Holkar’s death (ca.1765) his daughter-in-law, Ahalya Bai, assumed the position of Queen Regent. Together with Tukoji Rao she effectively ruled the State until her death thirty years later. But it was left to Tukoji’s son, Jaswant Rao, to challenge the dominance of the Poona Marathas in the Maratha Confederacy, eventually defeating the Peshwa’s army in 1802. But at this point the fortunes of the Holkars suffered a serious reverse. Although Jaswant Rao had initially defeated a small British force under Col.  William Monson, he was badly beaten by a contingent under Lord Lake. As a result Holkar was forced to cede a considerable portion of his territory and from this time until India’s independence in 1947, the residual State of Indore was obliged to accept British protection. For more detailed data on the Indore series, see A Study of Holkar State Coinage, by P.K.Sethi, S.K. Bhatt and R. Holkar (1976). ^{[1] SCWC – 1801-1900}

Description:

The coin pictured above is a 1/2 Anna from the era of Maharaja Shivaji Rao of the Holkar Dynasty of Indore (India).

Obverse: The circular inscription on the obverse reads: Shrimat Maharaj Holkar Sarkar (Indore).

Reverse: Ahd / Anna . Sa / 194(3/4)

Mint: Indore

Date: 194(3/4) VS – 1886/7 AD

Mintage: –