THE COINAGE OF THE SIKH STATE OF NABHA

                                          THE COINS OF THE SIKHS - PUNJAB

                                                                                                         

                                                            C by Saran Singh

THE COINAGE OF THE SIKH STATES OF PATIALA, NABHA, JIND  AND  KAITHAL

The Maharajas of Patiala, the Rajas of Nabha and Jind and the Sardars of Kaithal, all belonged to the Phulkian family of Sikh Jats. They were the decendents of Chaudhari Phul, the administrator of the local revenue authority, who died in 1652. These States were situated on the south of the Sutlej river and their territory reached up to the north of Delhi. They were thus known as the Cis- Sutlej States.

The Phulkian misl (confederacy) was aligned with the Dal Khalsa in 1734. In December 1763, the Phulkian misl, in collaboration with other misls, played an important part in the capture and destruction of Sirhind.

STATE OF NABHA

The town of Nabha was founded by Hamir Singh, the chief of one of the Phulkian families, in 1755. The territory of Nabha was gradually expanded through conquest of it’s neighbours. After the fall of Sirhind  in 1763, Nabha became a State.

In 1783, Jaswant Singh became the ruler of the State of Nabha. He was awarded the title of Raja by Shah Alam II, the Mughal Emperor of India. In May 1809, the State of Nabha became a British protectorate so as to control the growing influence of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab.

Raja Jaswant Singh issued the first coins of the State of Nabha in 1820, which except for the mintmark, were similar to the coins of the State of Patiala. The coins of Nabha issued between 1835 – 1874 bear the Gobindshahi inscriptions of the Sikh coins of Punjab on the obverse.

In August 1948, the State of Nabha was merged with PEPSU. In November 1956, all the States of PEPSU merged with the State of Punjab.

Ruler of the State of Nabha             Born               Period of Rule

Sardar Hamir Singh                                                    1755 - 1783                                     

Raja Jaswant Singh                             1775                1783 - 1840

Raja Devindar Singh                           1822                1840 – 1846 (deposed), Died 1865

Raja Bharpur Singh                             1840                1847 - 1863

Raja Bhagwan Singh                          1842                1864 - 1871

Maharaja Sir Hira Singh                      1843                1871 - 1911

Maharaja Ripudaman Singh                1883                1912 – 1928 (Abdicated), Died 1943

Maharaja Sir Partap Singh                  1919                1928 – 1948, Died 1995

Maharaja Hanuwant Singh

Coin Issues

Raja Jaswant Singh            - 1 Rupee, Nazrana Rupee

Raja Bharpur Singh           -  1 Rupee, 1 Mohur

Maharaja Sir Hira Singh    -  1 Rupee    

1 Rupee, silver VS 1908 (1851)

 Raja Bharpur Singh

 D: 21mm, W: 10.90g.