Shivaji Maharaj's Coronation Coinage and the Birth of Maratha Currency

In 1674, Shivaji Maharaj was crowned Chhatrapati at Raigad. But his vision of Hindavi Swarajya needed more than forts and treaties — it needed a currency that proclaimed his sovereignty. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the fascinating story of Shivaji's coinage: the gold Shivrai, the silver Hon, and the copper Paisa that bore the legend 'Sikandar-e-Sani' (the Second Alexander) and the Persian couplet 'Sikka zad bar har do 'alam, fazl-e-Haqq, Shivaji Raja' — 'Struck coin on both worlds, by the grace of God, Shivaji Raja'. They discuss how the Mughal mint at Ahmadnagar inspired his design, the practical challenge of establishing a monetary system without a silver mine, the role of the Peshwa and the treasury at Lohagad, and how these coins circulated alongside Mughal, Adil Shahi, and European coins in the Deccan. A surprising detail emerges: Shivaji's coins invoked both Hindu and Islamic imagery, reflecting the syncretic polity he aimed to build. This episode uncovers a rarely told angle — how a king's currency was as much a declaration of independence as a battlefield victory. #ShivajiMaharaj #MarathaCurrency #Shivrai #HonCoin #Raigad #HindaviSwarajya #AhmadnagarMint #SikandarESani #Deccan #17thCentury #Numismatics #Chhatrapati #Swarajya #Lohagad #MughalCoinage #AdilShahi #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo