Dewan Purnaiya served as effective administrator of Mysore during the minority of Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, installed after the British dismantled Tipu Sultan's regime following the fall of Seringapatam in 1799. The coinage issued under his authority represents one of the more unusual administrative arrangements in Indian numismatic history — a Hindu dewan governing in the name of a restored Hindu raja under British oversight, yet retaining enough independence to authorize a distinct copper series.
The 12½ cash denomination is a fractional peculiarity rooted in pre-colonial South Indian accounting systems that the British found inconvenient but temporarily tolerated.
Dewan Purnaiya served as effective administrator of Mysore during the minority of Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, installed after the British dismantled Tipu Sultan's regime following the fall of Seringapatam in 1799. The coinage issued under his authority represents one of the more unusual administrative arrangements in Indian numismatic history — a Hindu dewan governing in the name of a restored Hindu raja under British oversight, yet retaining enough independence to authorize a distinct copper series.
The 12½ cash denomination is a fractional peculiarity rooted in pre-colonial South Indian accounting systems that the British found inconvenient but temporarily tolerated.