The princely state of Hyderabad is also known as the Dominion of his Exalted Highness, the Nizam was established by Mir Kamruddin Ali Khan. This state is one of the 34 states of India under British India that issued metal currency. In 1919, due to the shortage of silver metal, the British government was forced to give permission to the Hyderabad state to issue paper money.

In 1919, the state of Hyderabad issued Osmania note of denomination 5 rupees. This note depicts Sarkar-e-Ali in Urdu meaning Government Currency note in the top center. The serial number is at the top and denomination in words set in a clockwise manner in Marathi, Telugu, English and Kannada languages and ‘Paanch Rupye’ in Urdu in the lower corner. Central denomination panel reads in the words “Paanch Rupye Sicca Osmania”. The denomination is in numerical on both sides in the panel’s format with Siyaq, Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, and English languages.

The reverse features a five Hyderabad rupee coin of AH 1337 with numerical five in the center. The micro-lettering ‘The Government of His Exalted Highness the Nizam of Hyderabad’ is a central denomination pattern that is in a straight line in obverse and it is in an intertwined circular pattern in reverse.

Image Courtesy: Oswal Antiques