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Princely State of Udaipur
¼Anna
烏代浦土邦
¼ 安納
Item number: A1308
Year: AD 1942
Material: Copper
Size: 18.8 x 18.3 x 0.7 mm
Weight: 2.1 g
Provenance: Teutoburger Münzauktion GmbH 2023
This is a copper coin with a denomination of “¼ Anna,” issued in AD 1942 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 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, “पाव आना” denotes the denomination of ¼ Anna.
The reverse 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. At the bottom, “१९९९” indicates that this coin was issued in the Vikram Samvat year 1999, which corresponds to AD 1942 in the Gregorian calendar. At the top, a rising sun on the horizon serves as a decorative element.
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.