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Princely State of Udaipur
1 Anna
烏代浦土邦
1安納
Item number: A1312
Year: AD 1943
Material: Copper
Size: 22.3 x 20.8 x 1.4 mm
Weight: 4.55 g
Provenance: Teutoburger Münzauktion GmbH 2023
This is a copper coin with a denomination of “1 Anna,” issued in AD 1943 by the princely state of Udaipur (also known as Mewar) in the Rajasthan region of northwestern India, under the rule of Bhopal Singh. During his reign (AD 1932–1948), Udaipur minted only copper coins, with each denomination taking on a distinct shape: the 1 Anna coin was octagonal, the ½ Anna coin was circular, and the ¼ Anna coin was square.
The obverse of the coin bears inscriptions in Sanskrit: “चित्रकूट” (Chittorgarh) and “उदयपुर” (Udaipur). The former refers to the old capital of the princely state from AD 1559 to AD 1585, while the latter denotes the name of the state. Below these inscriptions is a depiction of the famous fort complex located in Chittorgarh, recognised as the largest fort complex in India and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The reverse side of the coin features the Sanskrit inscription “दोस्ति” (Dosti, meaning “friendship”) followed by “लन्दन” (London), conveying the sentiment of “Friendship with London” and symbolising the princely state’s loyalty to British rule over India. At the bottom, the date “२०००” appears, indicating the coin’s issuance in the Vikram Samvat year 2000, which corresponds to AD 1943 in the Gregorian calendar.
The history of the princely state of Udaipur, also known as Mewar, traces back to AD 728. The rulers adopted the title “Maharana,” which conveys the meaning “King of Kings.” In AD 1615, after prolonged resistance, Udaipur secured a semi-independent status recognised by the Mughal Empire. Later, in AD 1818, the state aligned itself with the rising British Empire, becoming a protectorate. Following India’s independence in AD 1947, Udaipur chose to integrate with the newly formed nation of India.