2016-06-03 Fri

The year of 1818 is marked with an unimaginable blow to the Maratha Empire. On June 3, 1818, the Marathas surrendered to the British ending the Third Anglo-Maratha War and thus, the Maratha Empire. The Third Anglo-Maratha War was the final and decisive conflict between the British East India Company and the Maratha Empire in India.

Battle of Buxar and Battle Plassey gave the company the right to rule over these two provinces which brought in the political scenario of India. Gradually the company established their hold over small provinces in India. The major remaining threat was the Marathas who had a majority of Indian Territory under them. With their defeat, the East India Company could have acquired control over entire India.

East India Company has been already drawn in the politics of Marathas by Raghunathrao. The company took advantage the internal family disputes. The British occupation of Maratha territory was done in three phase known as the Anglo-Maratha Wars. It began with an invasion of Maratha territory by the British governor-general, Lord Hastings.

The Peshwa of Pune's forces, followed by those of the Bhonsle of Nagpur and Holkar of Indore, rose against the British. British victory was swift and resulted in the breakup of the Maratha empire and the loss of Maratha independence to the British. The Third Anglo-Maratha War left the British in control of virtually all of present-day India south of the Sutlej River.

Peshwa minted many coins; however, they were in the name of the Mughal Emperor. This particular coin is minted in 1815 at Ahmedabad Mint. The coin was minted in the name of Mughal Emperor Muhammed Akbar – II and bears the date 1230 in Indo – Arabic numerals on the obverse.

The British also issued a variety of coins both in the name of East India Company as well as in the name of the Emperor. This silver fanam was issued in the year of 1805 for the circulation in Bombay Presidency and was minted at Tellicherry Calicut. The coin bears a balance with the year of the issue below it in the reverse.