Maharashtra: Meet the numismatist whose collection boasts 1,000 Shivaji Maharaj era coins

To build his collection, Parag explored Pune’s Juna Bazaar, various forts associated with Maharaj, nearby villages, and even old foundries across Maharashtra. Through years of dedicated searching, he was able to gather a wide range of Shivrai copper coins, each bearing distinct patterns and historical significance.

“During Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Rajyabhishek (coronation ceremony) in 1674, a limited number of gold and copper coins were issued to mark the historic event. But over time, people melted the gold coins for ornaments, making them rare, while copper coins survived. So, I focused on collecting copper coins and have found over 1,000 with different patterns so far,” he said.

To deepen his understanding of the coins, Parag refers to Maharashtra State Board history books and other literature on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He studies the nuances of coinage from that era, such as weight, shape, and purpose of each coin. “Gold coins were mostly traded by sardars, while copper coins were used by common people. The coins were mostly circular, and a Shivrai would weigh about 2.75 grams. Earlier, the value of a coin was equal to its metal worth, and people used to logically weigh them on their palms to determine their value. It took one lakh Gold Hon (a gold coin that had been minted minted on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation) to build Sindhudurg Fort in Malvan,” said Parag.

Beyond the Shivrai coins, Parag has expanded his collection to include over 3,000 coins from different parts of the world, rare postcards, stamps, books, and matchboxes related to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s era. “Despite years of effort, I am still unaware of many historical facts, so research and study remain a daily affair,” he added.

His collection includes various Shivrai coins spanning from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation in the 17th century to the 19th century. He said “Among these, I have coins minted during Maharaj’s coronation, which bear the inscription ‘Shri Raja Shiva’ on one side and ‘Chhatrapati’ on the other. Additionally, my collection features coins issued by the successors of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who ascended the throne after him.”

The Shivrai currency is a symbol of the self-respecting Marathi empire. Unlike other coins of that time, which had inscriptions in Persian, Urdu, and English, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ensured that Shivrai coins were inscribed in the Marathi Devanagari script. The design of these coins was influenced by the Vijayanagar Empire’s currency and evolved over time, incorporating symbols like the sun, moon, various weapons, the Shivling, and Bel leaves. “These coins are round, approximately 2.7 cm in diameter, and weigh around 11 to 12 grams. They are made of pure copper and typically feature ‘Chhatrapati’ on one side and the ruler’s name on the other,” Parag said.

Apart from Shivrai, Parag has also collected rare and unique coins from across the world. “I possess rare coins such as a set from Somaliland featuring the 12 zodiac signs, India’s first-ever plastic coin, and commemorative coins of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in denominations of Rs 100, Rs 50, and Rs 2. My collection also includes individually minted coins issued by various Maratha chieftains in their respective regions. Additionally, I own coins from the reign of Hindu emperor Prithviraj Chauhan, coins from the Satavahana period, rare postal covers, Maharashtra-themed postage stamps, and a collection of rare books,” he shared.