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Princely State of Gwalior
Jivaji Rao
¼ Anna
瓜廖爾土邦
吉瓦吉·拉奧
¼ 安納
Item number: A1309
Year: AD 1929
Material: Copper
Size: 22.8 x 22.8 x 1.4 mm
Weight: 5.05 g
Provenance: Teutoburger Münzauktion GmbH 2023
This is a copper coin with a face value of ¼ anna, issued in AD 1929 during the early reign of Jivajirao Scindia, the last ruler of the Princely State of Gwalior in central India.
The obverse side of the coin features a Western-style coat of arms adopted by the Gwalior Princely State, reflecting European cultural influences. The emblem is flanked on both sides by fierce animals resembling wolves, with a cobra depicted within both the top and central sections of the shield. The denomination “¼ Anna” is inscribed in Urdu (ايک پيسه) on either side of the emblem, while the same value is marked in Sanskrit (पाव आना) at the top. Below the coat of arms, the date is inscribed in Sanskrit as “समत १९८६” (Vikram Samvat 1986), corresponding to the year AD 1929 in the Gregorian calendar.
The reverse side of the coin depicts a left-facing bust of Jiwaji Rao, dressed in traditional attire. Surrounding the portrait is a Sanskrit inscription of the ruler’s name and title, “श्री जीवाजीराव शिंदे आलिजाबहादर” (His Highness Maharaja Shrimant Jiwaji Rao Scindia Alijah Bahadur). Below this, the name of the princely state, “गवालियार” (Gwalior), is inscribed.
The Gwalior princely state was established in AD 1761, during the decline of the Mughal Empire, and later, in AD 1877, it was accorded the highest honour of a 21-gun salute by the British government. Jiwaji Rao ascended the throne in AD 1925, and in AD 1947, he chose to join independent India. He served in the administrative role of Rajpramukh, a position created for former princely rulers within the Indian government, until this office was dissolved in AD 1956.