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Paisa - Shah Alam II
| Issuer | Maratha Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 1759-1806 |
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| Currency | Rupee (1674-1818) |
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| Obverse description | Central field dominated by a trishula (trident), the sacred Hindu symbol associated with Shiva, rendered in bold relief in the primitive hammered style characteristic of Maratha copper coinage. The three prongs of the trishula rise prominently from a central staff, with a decorative element visible at the lower left of the device. The flan is irregular and roughly square in form, with a heavily textured surface typical of cast and hand-struck copper paisas of this period. No legend or inscription is present on this face. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Shah Alam II was a Mughal emperor in name only for much of his reign — blinded on the orders of Ghulam Qadir in 1788, pensioned by the British after 1803, and effectively a prisoner within his own Red Fort. The Marathas struck coins in his name during the years they controlled Delhi, a calculated piece of political theater that lent their confederation a veneer of Mughal legitimacy without surrendering actual authority.
The practice of issuing copper in a subordinate ruler's name was standard Maratha fiscal policy across multiple occupied territories.