THE COINAGE OF THE SIKH STATE OF PATIALA

                                          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 PATIALA

The town of Patiala, which later became a State, was founded by Ala Singh, the chief of one of the Phulkian families, in 1753. In 1762, Ahmad Shah Durrani of Afghanistan attacked Punjab. Ala Singh of Patiala was subdued and had to give an annual tribute to Ahmad Shah Durrani. Ahmad Shah conferred the title of Raja upon Ala Singh. In 1763, Ala Singh acquired part of the territories of Sirhind and added them to Patiala.

In 1767, Ala Singh’s grandson, Raja Amar Singh, was granted authority by Ahmad Shah Durrani to issue coins in Patiala (Sirhind Mint) which were in the name of Ahmad Shah. These coins were known as Rajashahi rupees. Raja Sahib Singh placed the State of Patiala under British protection, Treaty of Amritsar, in May 1809, so as to stop the expansion policies of Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab into his territory. In 1810, Sahib Singh was bestowed the title of Maharaja by Emperor Muhammad Akbar II of India.

In 1849, the Gobindshahi inscriptions were introduced on the obverse of the coins of Patiala in place of the earlier Persian inscriptions.

In August 1948, the State of Patiala was merged into PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union) which comprised of the States of Patiala, Jind, Nabha, Faridkot, Kapurthala, Kalsia, Maler Kotla and Nalagarh. In November 1956, all the States under PEPSU were merged with the State of Punjab.

Rulers of the State of Patiala	Period of Rule
Raja Ala Singh	1753   -   1765
Raja Amar Singh	1765   -   1781
Maharaja Sahib Singh	1781   -   1813
Maharaja  Karam Singh	1813   -   1845
Maharaja Narindar Singh	1845   -   1862
Maharaja Mahindar Singh	1862   -   1876
Maharaja Rajindar Singh	1876   -   1900
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh	1900   -   1938
Maharaja Sir Yadvinder Singh	1938   -   1948

 Coin Issues                                                                         

Raja Ala Singh                           - 1 Rupee

Raja Amar Singh                        -  1 Rupee

Maharaja Sahib Singh                 - 1 Rupee

Maharaja Karam Singh               - ¼ Rupee, 1 Rupee, Nazarana Rupee, 1 Mohur

Maharaja Narindar Singh            - ¼ Rupee, 1 Rupee, 1 Mohur

Maharaja Mahindar Singh           - 1 Rupee

Maharaja Rajindar Singh             - ¼ Rupee, ½ Rupee, Nazarana Rupee, 1/3 Mohur, 1 Mohur

Maharaja Bhupinder Singh          - 1 Rupee, 1/6 Mohur, 1/3 Mohur, 2/3 Mohur, 1 Mohur

Maharaja Sir Yadvinder Singh     - 1 Rupee, 1/6 Mohur, 1/3 Mohur, 2/3 Mohur                                       

1 Rupee, Silver VS (1895) (1838)

 Maharaja Karam Singh

D: 18mm, W: 11.00g.

 1 Rupee, silver AH

 Maharaja Mahindar Singh

 D: 18mm, W: 11.00g.

1 Rupee, silver VS (19)42 (1885)

 Maharaja Rajindar Singh

 D: 18mm, W: 11.00g.

1 Mohur, gold VS (18)96 (1839)

 Maharaja Karam Singh

  D: 19mm, W: 10.75g.

2/3 Mohur, gold VS (19)58 (1901)

 Maharaja Bhupindra Singh

  D: 18mm, W: 7.40g

 2/3 Mohur, gold VS (19)94 (1937)

 Maharaja Sir Yadvindra Singh

 D: 17mm, W: 7.40g.