Catalog
1 Hoan - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
| Issuer | Maratha Empire (Indian states) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1664 |
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| Composition | Gold |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central field bears a two-line Devanagari inscription reading 'Chhatra / Pati', together forming the royal title 'Chhatrapati', arranged within a square compartment divided by ruled lines. The inscription is surrounded by a border of raised dots or pellets encircling the flan, a decorative feature common to Maratha gold hon issues. The bold, square letterforms are characteristic of the hammered technique employed at the Raigad mint. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The hona (also transliterated as "hon" or "hun") was the primary gold coinage of the Maratha administration, adapted from earlier Bijapur Sultanate monetary conventions that Shivaji's forces had encountered during their campaigns through the Deccan. Shivaji formally established his independent treasury following the sack of Surat in 1664 — the same year attributed to this issue — which provided the bullion reserves necessary to strike coinage under his own authority rather than as a feudatory of the Mughals or Bijapur.
The precise mint attribution for early Maratha honas remains contested among specialists. Raigad and Pratapgad have both been proposed.