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1 Hoan - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
| Issuer | Maratha Empire (Indian states) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1664 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | KM#1 |
| Obverse description | Three-line Devanagari legend within a geometric frame composed of intersecting lines, evoking the stylized architectural motif characteristic of early Maratha coinage. The inscription reads 'Shri Raja Shiv' arranged vertically in the central field. A dotted border encircles the entire design. The execution is typical of the hammered die technique, resulting in a slightly irregular strike with flat, unadorned fields. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse script | Devanagari |
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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.