The rich history of Sikh coins

The rich history of Sikh coins is a fascinating aspect of Sikhism and its heritage. During the post-Guru era, Banda Singh Bahadur was the first political leader of the Sikhs and minted coins with inscriptions in Persian script. The obverse of the coins carried the inscription "Sikka Zad Bar Har Do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast Fath-i-Gur Gobind Singh Shah-i-Shahan Tegh-i-Nanak Wahib Ast" while the reverse carried the inscription "Zarb Khalsa Mubarak Bakht Ba-Aman Ud-Dahr Zinat At-Takht Mashwarat Shahr. Sanah 3." These coins serve as a reminder of the rich heritage and culture of the Sikhs.

The Sikh Empire was a major power empire in the Indian Subcontinent during the medieval period, formed under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The Sikh Empire Coins started during the second half of the 18th century and ended with the annexation of Punjab by the British government in 1849 CE. The silver rupee of the Sikh Empire was issued from two mints, Lahore and Amritsar, with the obverse side bearing the Nanak Shah or Gobind Shahi couplet and the reverse side bearing the mint name. The Misl Coinage was issued after the death of Jassa Singh Ahluwalia in 1783 CE, with different types of coins being issued from the mint Amritsar and Ahandgha. Maharaja Ranjit Singh, known as the "Lion of Punjab," ruled the independent state of Punjab and continued to issue Nanakshahi coins from the mint Amritsar in VS 1845. He never put his name on the coins he issued, nor did his successor. "Sikka Zad Bar Sim O Zar Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast" and "Fath-i-Gobind Singh-i-Shahan Tegh-i-Nanak Wahib Ast" add an important cultural aspect to the Sikh coins and serve as a reminder of the legacy of Guru Gobind Singh. These coins are a valuable part of the Punjabi heritage and a fascinating aspect of coin collecting. The rich history of Sikh coins highlights the importance of preserving and valuing cultural heritage and serves as a testament to the powerful Sikh Empire.

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