Shivrai
{{Short description|Copper currency of the Maratha Empire}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox coin
| Denomination = Shivrai
| Country = Maratha Empire
| Composition = Copper
| Years of Minting = 1674 - 1830
| Circulation = 1674 – late 1890s
| Value = 1/74 to 1/80 of rupee
| Obverse Design = "Shri / Raja / Shiv" or "Shri / Raja" in Devanagari script, in three or two rows.
| Reverse Design = Chhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows.
}}
Shivrai was a copper coin minted during the rule of Marathas[https://archive.today/20130103140056/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-30/pune/28204510_1_coins-shivaji-era-construction-site Shivaji era copper coins found at construction site] and remained in circulation till the end of the 19th century, primarily in the western region of modern-day Maharashtra.{{Cite book|title = महाराष्ट्रातील चलनाचा इतिहास (History of the coinage of Maharashtra)|last = Prabhune|first = Padmakar|publisher = Diamond Publications|year = 2007|isbn = 978-81-89724-92-4|location = Pune|pages = 76}}{{Cite web|date=March 5, 2019|first=Vijay|last=Chavan|title=State archaeologists warn about fake coins|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/civic/state-archaeologists-warn-about-fake-coins/articleshow/68261262.cms|access-date=2020-10-23|website=Pune Mirror|language=en|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027035109/https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/civic/state-archaeologists-warn-about-fake-coins/articleshow/68261262.cms|url-status=live}}
Before 1830s, shivrai was valued at 1/74 to 1/80 of a rupee.{{Cite web|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_A0IAQAAIAAJ&dq=shivrai%20coin&pg=PA306|title = Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Thane, Pt I, Pg 306.|date = 1882|access-date = 29 June 2015|website = Google books|publisher = Government Central Press}} There are 150 different types of shivrai extant to date.{{When|date=February 2020}} In 1885, the British government ordered all local revenue collectors (Mamlatdars) to collect all shivrais and deposit them in treasury. The purpose of this was to bring the new pice, worth 1/64 of rupee, in currency by eliminating this native rival. In 1890, Rev. Abbott collected and studied around 25,000 shivrais. He mentions that they were still in circulation. The shivrai remained in circulation till the end of the 19th century.
Shivaji's Shivrai
{{Infobox coin
| Country = Maratha Empire
| Denomination = Shivaji's Shivrai
| Obverse = Shivrai 01.jpg
| Reverse = Shivrai 02.jpg
| Circulation = 1674 - 1890s
| Value = 1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee
| Composition = Copper
| Obverse Design Date = 1674
| Reverse Design Date = 1674
| Obverse Design = Shri / Raja / Shiv in Devanagari script, in three rows.
| Reverse Design = Chhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows.
| Diameter = 23
| Thickness = 4
}}
When the Maratha warrior Shivaji became Chhatrapati of the Maratha empire,[https://archive.today/20130104041847/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2002-05-01/mumbai/27142737_1_rare-coins-numismatic-society-three-day-exhibition Rare coins will be on display] as a symbol of sovereignty, the Rajyaabhisheka Shaka (The Coronation Era) was started. On the occasion of coronation, special coins were minted, including a gold coin called Shivrai Hon.[https://archive.today/20130103155117/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-01-09/pune/28048174_1_gold-coins-rare-items-shivaji-era Coins from Shivaji era main attraction at rare items expo] These coins have Shri Raja ShivaChhatrapati, in Devanagari, inscribed on them.
Dudandi Shivrai
{{Infobox coin
| Denomination = Dudandi Shivrai
| Country = Maratha Empire
| Value = 1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee
| Diameter = 20
| Composition = Copper
| Circulation = Mid 18th to late 19th century
| Obverse = Dudandi Shivrai 02.jpg
| Reverse = Dudandi Shivrai 01.jpg
| Obverse Design = Shri / Raja in Devanagari script, in two rows. "Shri" is underlined.
| Reverse Design = Chhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows.
| Thickness = 4
| Years of Minting = Mid 18th Century - 1818
}}
Dudandi Shivrais (Marathi: दुदांडी शिवराई) were minted during Peshwa period.{{cite web |title=मराठा राजघराण्याची नाणी |url=http://www.shivrajabhishek.org/event_news.php?ne_id=23 |website=www.shivrajabhishek.org |access-date=24 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710130421/http://www.shivrajabhishek.org/event_news.php?ne_id=23 |archive-date=July 10, 2015 |language=mr}} Dudandi literally means two-bars.{{Cite web|title = 'Dudandi' Meaning in English - Meanings of Marathi Words in English, English to Marathi Dictionary, Marathi to English Dictionary|url = http://marathidictionary.org/meaning.php?id=29412&lang=Marathi|website = marathidictionary.org|access-date = 2015-07-09|first = Tamil|last = tamildictionary.org|archive-date = 25 December 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181225202139/http://marathidictionary.org/meaning.php?id=29412&lang=Marathi|url-status = live}} The "Shri" at the top of the obverse is underlined. This horizontal line, combined with the horizontal heading line of the word "Raja", gives us an impression of "Double bars", hence the term "Dudandi".
[[East India Company|EIC]]'s Shivrai
{{Infobox coin
| Denomination = EIC's Shivrai
| Country = Company Raj
| Value = 1/74th to 1/80th of Rupee
| Diameter = 19
| Mass_g = 9.80
| Composition = Copper
| Years of Minting = 1820 - 1830
| Circulation = 1820 - Late 1890s
| Obverse Design = Numeric Fasli year, "Raja" in Devanagari
| Reverse Design = Chhatra / Pati in Devanagari script, in two rows.
}}
The British East India Company minted Shivrais at Poona during the period of 1820–1830.{{Cite journal|title = The coins of the Bombay Presidency; The Transitional Mints of the Deccan|last = Stevens|first = Paul|date = 11 Apr 2008|journal = Oriental Numismatic Society, Newsletter # 181}} Unlike Earlier Shivrais, these contained year of minting on it.{{Cite web|url = http://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=56956|title = B.E.I.C., Shivarai or Chhatrapati Paisa, struck at Poona 1820 - 1830|date = 10 Jul 2015|access-date = 10 Jul 2015|website = ZENO.RU - Oriental Coins Database|archive-date = 25 December 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181225202143/https://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=56956|url-status = live}} The dotted collar of earlier Shivrais is also absent. The year was given in Fasli era.
References
{{Portal|Numismatics}}
{{Commons category|Shivrai}}
{{reflist}}
{{MarathaEmpire}}
{{Historic Indian currency and coinage}}
Category:Monuments and memorials to Shivaji
Category:British East India Company
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