Shivrai
Shivrai was a copper coin minted during the rule of Marathas and remained in circulation till the end of the 19th century, primarily in the western region of modern-day Maharashtra.
| Value | 1/74 to 1/80 of rupee |
|---|---|
| Composition | Copper |
| Years of minting | 1674 - 1830 |
| Circulation | 1674 – late 1890s |
| 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. |
Before 1830s, shivrai was valued at 1/74 to 1/80 of a rupee. There are 150 different types of shivrai extant to date. 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.
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