Engraving after a drawing by James Welsh, Lieutenant Colonel in the army of the East India Company, published in his ‘Military Reminiscences: extracted from a journal of nearly forty years’ active service in the East Indies’ in 1830. The fort of Nundydroog, or Nandidurga, located on a hilltop north east of Bangalore in the Baramahal… Read more »
The Wodeyars of Mysore issued a number of copper coins in various denominations. The most common numismatic device employed was the elephant. This copper coin issued by Krishna Raja Wodeyar III shows on the obverse an elephant facing the left and laden with ornaments. On the reverse is a three-line Kanarese legend and the lettering… Read more »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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.