Hyderabad was the premier Princely State. Hyderabad City is located beside Golkonda, the citadel of the Qutb Shahi sultans until they were overthrown by Aurangzeb in 1687. A beautifully located city on the bank of the Musi River, the mint epithet was appropriately Farkhanda Bunyad, “of happy foundation”. It was absorbed into the Indian Union in the year 1948.

Mir Usman Ali Khan was the last Nizam of the Hyderabad and Berar. He ruled between 1911 and 1948 until it was merged with the Indian Union. Mir Usman Ali Khan issued coins in various metals viz. gold, silver, bronze, nickel and copper-nickel in shapes such as round or irregular and square from Haidarabad (Farkhanda Bunyad) mint. These coins were found in various denominations like Rupee, Ashrafi, Pai, and Annas.

The above coin is 1 Anna (1/16 rupee) copper-nickel coin of Osman Ali minted during AH. 1329-67 / 1911-48 AD. The Obv features Toughra with the letter "Ain" in the loops at left, denomination "1 Anna" in four different languages around and the AH date 1338 below with a flower to the right . The Reverse features the denomination symbol and Persian value number in center flanked by Persian legends in Urdu "Yek Anna"on the right, "Sikka Usmania" on the left. Image Courtesy: worldofcoins.eu