Baroda - Indian Princely State

I've just been scanning some copper coins I have of Baroda from the milled coinage of Sayagi Rao III. I've only got six examples of these and last time I looked at them (about 10 years ago) I didn't notice anything particularly special about them. Well, i've just done a close inspection and noticed that they are really wild in terms of die rotation error. Of the six, only one has the expected coin rotation. The others vary from between 35 degrees rotation error through to 120 degrees rotation error. Given the odds of only 1:6 being
proper, i can only assume that the norm is for these to be all over the place in terms of rotation errors.

The other thing I noticed was that they were all fairly poorly struck up, giving the impression that they were more worn than they actually are.

Also noticed that the 2 paisa I have is very clearly an overstruck date (VS1949/4).

An interesting series of coins.

Here's the 2 paisa. Probably the best example of the strike problem, die rotation, and overdate. Notice the rhs obverse has been very poorly struck up. It also has a 90 degree die rotation error (which I corrected for the scan). If you look closely you can see the last numeral overstrike.

 

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Thank you for a very interesting and informative post

Take Care
Ben

 

Ian,the Barodan coins are not easy to catalogue,especially the copper coins.The silver ones seem to never crop up.There were many different types struck during the reigh of Maharajah Sayaji Rao III (AH1292-1357/VS1932-96/1875-1939).The 1 Paisa with the horse's hoof & sarkar (sword) crops up a lot.The 1 Pie almost never turns up,but the 2 Paisa never turns up.The hammered coins of this reign never turns up either.

Aidan.

 

Again Ian something new for me to enjoy :bow:

De Orc

 

Here's a one year type (1892) Sayagi Rao III silver 4 annas KM34. Nice portrait coin, but very poorly struck up on the obverse.



Here's an earlier (AH1238 year 18 / 1822) rupee from Baroda mint during the reign of Sayaji Rao II and in the name of Akbar II. It's KM38.1.

 

A very interesting copper coin from this native state, Ian. Thanks for sharing this with us.

You are correct that die orientation of these coins are wild. I have seen almost every possible die rotation on these coin. Also, there are so many varieties of these coins and many of them are not listed in Krause. There is a scarce sub-variety where the word 'Sarkar' is written in half circular style rather then straight line. The variety was issued only for two years (VS 1940 and 1941)

It's a very clear overstruck date but to me it looks like VS 1949/8 rather then VS 1949/4. Will confirm this later.

Regards
Ballabh Garg

 

The symbol on this coin is Cow's hoof and a sword. This was the state symbol since beginning of Gaikwad's dynasty in early 1700. Above cow's hoof, the word 'Sarkar' is written in nagri letters which means 'Government'.

Regards
Ballabh Garg

 

Nice quarter rupee of this scarce variety (also known as big portrait style). But I think this was issued for two years, VS 1948 and 1949. I need to double check in Krause to be sure.

The fractional silver coins of this series are scarce and half rupee coins are extremely rare. Enjoy!

Regards
Ballabh Garg

 

Ballabh,thanks for clarifying what the Devanagari inscription above the hoof is.The curved 'Sarkar' type 1 & 2 Paisa is listed in Krause for VS1940-42 (1883-85) (1 Paisa) & VS1940-41 (1883-84) (2 Paisa).

My knowledge of Indian languages is non-existent,as I can't read them.The only dates I can read on Indian Princely States coins apart from the AD dates is the Arabic numerals.

Aidan.

 

Hi,

I originally had it noted as a 1949/8 but here I am 10 years later thinking that it was likely to be a match for the `4'. However, I really am quite uncertain as to what these overstruck dates might look like, so i'm a bit out of my depth on the matter. Perspective wise, this is the one and only example i've ever seen.

maybe the attached thumbnail is a higher resolution image

 

Ian,it looks like there's no overstriking on the date,but there's a few die cracks though.

Aidan.

 

Hi,

Thanks for your comments. I am extremely pleased that we have your knowledge and expertise available to us. I hope to make full advantage of it in due course.

Like its little brother, the 2 annas, this type coin was VS1949 only....at least, according to my out of date Krause. It was the half rupee and rupee that were struck VS1948 and 9. Possibly another KM mistake though, as it seems strange to introduce lower denomination coinage a year after the larger silver coins were in circulation. (?)

Ian

 

Bear with me and have a look at the last numeral again Aidan.

The second and the last are supposed to look the same (1-9-4-9 in sanskrit numerals). That being the case, what is that loop to the left of the last numeral?

Now then, two overdates are known. the 1949/4 and the 1949/8. So is the last `9' overstruck on a sanskrit `4' or is it over an `8'?

 

You are correct, Ian. I checked Krause and my other reference book and only half rupee and one rupee coins were issued dated VS 1948. In VS 1949, they issued all four denomination of silver coins.

Regards
Ballabh Garg

 

Here are the two curved 'Sarkar' type copper coins

1 Paisa


2 Paisa


Regards
Ballabh Garg

 

And two straight line 'Sarkar' type coins

1 Paisa


2 Paisa


Regards
Ballabh Garg

 

Silver 2 Annas (1/8 Rupee)

Type I


Type II


Regards,
Ballabh Garg

 

Silver 4 Annas (1/4 Rupee)

Type I


Type II


Regards,
Ballabh Garg

 

Silver 8 Annas (1/2 Rupee)

Type I


Type II


Regards,
Ballabh Garg

 

Silver One Rupees

Type I


Type II




Regards,
Ballabh Garg