Hyderabad State, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, Nizam of Hyderabad, Silver Rupee of Hyderabad Mint

A milestone ‘Made in Hyderabad’. In the late 19th century, many princely states battled against constant hurdles thrown by the British Indian government, keen on stopping mints producing ‘substandard’ hand-struck coins. States like Hyderabad set up mechanised mints to make their coins as standard and modern as British coins. The Nizam’s government was a trailblazer in these attempts following Sir Salar Jung I’s monetary reforms. In 1885, a fully mechanised mint became operational at Hyderabad producing charkhi or milled rupees and fractions.