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Rupee - Sikandar Ali Khan
| Issuer | Princely state of Malerkotla (Indian princely states) |
|---|---|
| Year | 1859-1871 |
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| Currency | Rupee (1768-1908) |
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| Obverse description | The obverse bears a multi-line Persian inscription in bold, deeply struck Nasta'liq script filling the entire field, identifying the ruler Sikandar Ali Khan and his titles. The legends are arranged in two registers divided by a horizontal line across the coin. The inscription references the mint name Sahrind (Sirhind), characteristic of Malerkotla coinage of this period. The overall style is typical of hammered Indian princely state rupees, with the script occupying the full flan in an informal, slightly irregular layout. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Sahrind |
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| Additional information |
Malerkotla was the only Muslim-ruled princely state in the Punjab, founded by a descendant of the Afghan Sherwani dynasty in the late 15th century. Sikandar Ali Khan's reign coincided almost exactly with the period in which the British Crown — following the 1858 transfer of power from the East India Company — was systematically pressuring smaller states to abandon independent coinage in favor of British India rupees. That Malerkotla continued striking through 1871 reflects the state's tenacious insistence on its minting rights, which were among the last exercised in the Punjab before the privilege was extinguished entirely.