Imagining Mysore

Dewan Purnaiya, Regent for Krishna Raja Wodeyar III

Krishnaraja was placed on the throne when he was a young boy of 5 and therefore his prime minister Dewan Purniya, the former finance minister, served as regent until 1810. This coin was issued during the regency period and features the sardula, the mythical tiger of Mysore. On the reverse, you’ll see the mint name… Read more »

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… Read more »

Krishnaraja Wodeyar III, Silver Pavali or 1/4 Rupee

The Wodeyar/Wadiyar dynasty owns the distinction for being the only Indian royal family to have ruled for five centuries! Chosen to serve as vassals of the Vijayanagara empire in 1399, the Wodeyars grew over time to reign over their own kingdom, which they did right up till the formation of the Union of India in… Read more »

Devaraya I, Vijayanagara, Copper Kasu

The coins of the Vijayanagara Empire had ushered in a new era for numismatics in South India. Most of the coins of this period were modeled on their predecessors, like those of the Hoysalas. The coinage of Devaraya I and Devaraya II are similar in design and legends. The obverse of this copper coin bears… Read more »

Tirumalaraya, Aravidu Dynasty, Copper Jital

This is a very fine coin struck during the reign of Tirumalaraya/ Tirumala Deva Raya who was the first crowned king of the Vijayanagara Empire from the Aravidu Dynasty. He retained many of the Vijayanagara territories despite having to engage with multiple feuds during his reign and assumed the title “Reviver of the Decadent Karnataka… Read more »

Krishna Raja Wodeyar, Copper, 5 Cash, Type III

The Wodeyars of Mysore issued a number of copper coins in various denominations. The obverse of this copper coin issued by Krishna Raja Wodeyar depicts a caparisoned elephant with the Kanarese numeral one. On the reverse a three-line Kanarese legend and the lettering “5 Cash” – denoting the denomination, but has worn off.

Map of India in 1022

This map depicts geographical features and the distribution of various Hindu dynasties in India in 1022. In the north-west, the Ghaznavid Empire was at its zenith under Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni (971 – 1030), who crossed the river Indus and plundered India seventeen times during the course of his reign. The map was published in… Read more »