Dewan Purnaiya, Regent for Krishna Raja Wodeyar, Copper 12 1/2 Cash

Two die varieties of fine and scarce coins are seen, which commemorate Dewan Purnaiya, the first Dewan or Prime Minister of the Mysore State. He served three rulers with distinction: Hyder Ali, Tipu Sultan and finally, upon Tipu’s death, the five-year-old Krishnaraja Wodeyar III. Purnaiya is remembered for laying the foundation of the state’s sound administrative machinery.