Katraj resident Parag Suresh Jagtap, 36, has spent years constructing a rare assortment of historic cash. His assortment consists of over 1,000 copper cash that includes Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, particularly the Shivrai forex, which was launched throughout the Maratha king’s coronation in 1674.
Parag’s fascination with numismatics started in 2008 when his uncle gifted him a coin from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s period. That single coin sparked his curiosity, main him on a journey to uncover and protect the legacy of the Shivrai forex. “The attraction in direction of amassing cash began round 2008 when my uncle gave me a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj period coin. This fascinated me concerning the legacy and uniqueness of the cash manufactured then,” he stated.
To construct his assortment, Parag explored Pune’s Juna Bazaar, numerous forts related to Maharaj, close by villages, and even previous foundries throughout Maharashtra. By way of years of devoted looking out, he was in a position to collect a variety of Shivrai copper cash, every bearing distinct patterns and historic significance.
“Throughout Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Rajyabhishek (coronation ceremony) in 1674, a restricted variety of gold and copper cash had been issued to mark the historic occasion. However over time, individuals melted the gold cash for ornaments, making them uncommon, whereas copper cash survived. So, I targeted on amassing copper cash and have discovered over 1,000 with totally different patterns to date,” he stated.
To deepen his understanding of the cash, Parag refers to Maharashtra State Board historical past books and different literature on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He research the nuances of coinage from that period, reminiscent of weight, form, and objective of every coin. “Gold cash had been largely traded by sardars, whereas copper cash had been utilized by frequent individuals. The cash had been largely round, and a Shivrai would weigh about 2.75 grams. Earlier, the worth of a coin was equal to its metallic price, and folks used to logically weigh them on their palms to find out their worth. It took one lakh Gold Hon (a gold coin that had been minted minted on the event of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation) to construct Sindhudurg Fort in Malvan,” stated Parag.
Past the Shivrai cash, Parag has expanded his assortment to incorporate over 3,000 cash from totally different components of the world, uncommon postcards, stamps, books, and matchboxes associated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s period. “Regardless of years of effort, I’m nonetheless unaware of many historic details, so analysis and research stay a every day affair,” he added.
His assortment consists of numerous Shivrai cash spanning from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation within the seventeenth century to the nineteenth century. He stated “Amongst these, I’ve cash minted throughout Maharaj’s coronation, which bear the inscription ‘Shri Raja Shiva’ on one facet and ‘Chhatrapati’ on the opposite. Moreover, my assortment options cash issued by the successors of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj who ascended the throne after him.”
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The Shivrai forex is an emblem of the self-respecting Marathi empire. Not like different cash of that point, which had inscriptions in Persian, Urdu, and English, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ensured that Shivrai cash had been inscribed within the Marathi Devanagari script. The design of those cash was influenced by the Vijayanagar Empire’s forex and developed over time, incorporating symbols just like the solar, moon, numerous weapons, the Shivling, and Bel leaves. “These cash are spherical, roughly 2.7 cm in diameter, and weigh round 11 to 12 grams. They’re made from pure copper and sometimes characteristic ‘Chhatrapati’ on one facet and the ruler’s identify on the opposite,” Parag stated.
Other than Shivrai, Parag has additionally collected uncommon and distinctive cash from internationally. “I possess uncommon cash reminiscent of a set from Somaliland that includes the 12 zodiac indicators, India’s first-ever plastic coin, and commemorative cash of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in denominations of Rs 100, Rs 50, and Rs 2. My assortment additionally consists of individually minted cash issued by numerous Maratha chieftains of their respective areas. Moreover, I personal cash from the reign of Hindu emperor Prithviraj Chauhan, cash from the Satavahana interval, uncommon postal covers, Maharashtra-themed postage stamps, and a group of uncommon books,” he shared.
