Catalog
1 Hoan - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
| Issuer | Maratha Empire (Indian states) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1664 |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Two-line Devanagari legend reading 'Chhatra Pati' arranged within a similar geometric linear frame, mirroring the architectural motif seen on the obverse. The design features intersecting ruled lines forming compartments around the inscription, a hallmark of the Hon/Shivrai coinage issued under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. A dotted border surrounds the design. The strike, characteristic of hammered production, is irregular with evidence of hand-cut die work. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The hona (or hon) was the primary gold coinage of the Maratha Empire, but silver fractions circulated alongside it for smaller transactions. Shivaji's mint operations were formalized following his sack of Surat in 1664 — the same year as this issue — when the enormous plunder he seized from one of the Mughal Empire's wealthiest trading ports gave him both the bullion and the political confidence to assert an independent coinage. Issuing one's own currency was an explicit rejection of Mughal monetary authority.
Shivaji would not formally receive the title Chhatrapati until his coronation at Raigad in 1674.