MY HERITAGE COINS

Coins of the Sikhs

Most Sikh coins continue to be in private collections or to a lesser extent in museums of Punjab. Even India’s national museums continue to ignore Sikh coins as they are seen a challenge to the Indian state as it exists today. Most international museums display Sikh Empire coins under the larger “Indian Collection”.

Devotion of a community: Sikh coins can be found in Copper, Silver and Gold and bear some interesting marking to identify the mint. Coins from the mint of Derajat have a lion while the Amritsar Mint had weapons such as Kirpan and Katar as decorations to signify the importance of self defence in Sikhism. A crude form of Khanda (with one sword and one Chakar) can also be seen on some of the coins produced in the Kashmir mint.

It is a Sikh belief that one must seek protection of the Almighty God. This theme is prevalent in many Sikh coins minted in the Amritsar mint, with the words “Akal Sahai” inscribed on them.
As the city of Amritsar was seen as a center of Sikhism, its name was used on several coins from the city. The name of the city of Amritsar appears to be the only name of a city found on the Sikh coins. It appears as “Sri Amritsarji”

Sikhs throughout history have attributed their success to God Almighty -Waheguru. The path to Waheguru is shown by the Gurus and all achievements of the community are seen as blessings of the Guru. This is seen in almost every Sikh coin ever produced. The following couplet, appearing on the coins in Farsi dominates this theme:

Deg Tegh O Fateh Nusrat Bedirang, Yaft Az Nanak Guru Gobind Singh
meaning, “Kettle to feed, (with) the sword to defend, (and) the resultant victory are achieved with help from Guru Nanak -Guru Gobind Singh.”

Expansion of Sikh Empire

The distribution of mints across the empire provides clues to the expanding Sikh Raj from Lahore to other parts of the South Asia. Upto late 1770’s, only Lahore Mint was used whereas the Amritsar mint started production of Sikh Misl coins around 1777.

Between 1782 and 1797, there appear to be no Sikh coins produced by Lahore mint. This is due to the fact that during this period Lahore became a dangerous territory as a struggle between the Khalsa and the Punjab Government made Lahore unsuitable. Most economic activity seems to have been effected by it.

As Sikhs shifted to safer grounds, away from Lahore, the Anandgarh Mint was used between 1784 and 1789, while the Amritsar mint also produced coins during this period. Several researchers of Sikh coins are of the opinion that the Anandgarh mint was only in name while actually it was the Amritsar mint, which produced the coins. It is quiet probable that the name of Anandgarh was used as a camouflage.

From 1798 to 1817, both Amritsar and Lahore were the main minting locations. By 1820, Sikh Raj was on a strong ground and its expansion is evident from the fact that from 1818, the Multan mint became active and very many fine examples of the coins minted there have survived the devastation of Punjab.

Brahman Influence

The Dogras and Brahmins had infiltrated the upper echelons of the Sikh Empire and were the cause of the downfall of the empire in 1849. The influence of Hindu thought on the decision makers of the Lahore Darbar is evident from the coins of later part of Sikh Raj. Immediately after the death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839, the Sikh Kingdom came under the control of the Dogras and most coins minted during Maharaja Sher Singh (1841-1843) contain figures of the Hindus. The most widely used are OM and a pictorial representation of Trishul.

Till the end of the Sikh Raj

From 1835 to the end of Sikh Raj, Kashmir, Multan, Derajat and Peshavar mints were active in the production of Sikh Coins. There were other smaller mints throughout the newly acquired territory, but these major mints kept the treasury going for the most part. The Amritsar Mint was the only mint that produced Sikh coins from 1777 to end of the Sikh Raj in 1849.

GOLD-MOUNTED 'HORSE-HEAD' SWORD

The Unique Horse-Head shaped Grip is Mounted with Gold on all sides Measuring 7 inches Long with 3 inch Long Blade - Obviously owned by a Man of High Standing and Wealth . This Beautiful, Rare, Antique Sword shows some wear commensurate with age & use, yet remains in Very-Nice Condition

Khunda Double edged sword

Khunda Double edged sword

The oldest and most typical of Indian swords.it has a broad, straight blade, usually widening towards the point, which is generally quite blunt. Sometimes it is double-edged, but it generally has a strengthening plate with ornamental borders on the back for a considerable part of its length.The hilt has a broad plate guard and wide finger guard which joins the large round, flat pommel. There is a spike on the pommel which acts as a guard for the arm, and for a grip for the left hand when making a two-handed stroke.It is also used as a hand rest when the sword is sheathed. The inside of the guard and finger guard are padded.

Katar 2

Katar 2

Measurements:
Blade – 6.5 inches long3 inches wide at base
Handle Section - 6.5 inches long
Overall length in scabbard 13 inches
With beautiful gold koftgari

Katar 1

Katar 1
Measurements:
Blade - 11 inches long2.5 inches wide at base
Handle Section - 8.5 inches long
Overall length in scabbard 19 & 1/2 inches

KATAR

The oldest and most characteristic of Indian knives. The pectiliarity lies in the handle which is made up of two parallel bars connected by two, or more, crosspieces, one of which is at the end of the side bars and is fastened to the blade. The Katar is wrapped to the hand to optimize the grip. The blades are always double-edged and generally straight, but occasionally curved. They are of all lengths from a few inches to about three feet. European blades of the 16th and 17th centuries were often used, especially by the Mahrattas. Katars with original blades are often thickened at the point to strengthen them for use against armor. When European blades are used they are always riveted to projections from the hilt. The native blades are often forged in one piece with it. The blades are sometimes forked at the point, and even three blades occur. The Indian armies occasionally made Katars that were hollow and served as sheaths for smaller ones; or with three blades that folded together, appearing to be one, until handle bars were pressed together, when they opened out.