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1 Fanam - [Murari Rao Ghorpade] Sheshnag Venkatgiri
| Issuer | Maratha Empire (Indian states) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1755-1803 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse bears a two-line inscription in Devanagari script reading 'Venkatagiri' (वेंकटगिरी), referencing the place of issue, with the letters arranged across the field in the manner typical of hammered South Indian fanams. The characters are crudely but legibly incused into the irregular flan, with the script occupying the majority of the available surface. No additional devices or border elements are present. |
| Reverse script | Devanagari |
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| Additional information |
The Ghorpade chiefs of Gutti and Venkatagiri operated as Maratha tributaries in the Deccan, their minting rights functioning as a marker of regional autonomy within an increasingly fractured imperial structure. Murari Rao Ghorpade held Gutti fort until its cession to Hyder Ali in 1779, after which Venkatagiri became the family's primary seat — a shift that likely affected which mint produced these fanams and under what authority.
At 0.9 grams and 5 mm across, the fanam was the workhorse denomination of South Indian gold coinage, used in temple transactions and local trade where larger Mughal or British issues were impractical.