2022-02-08 Tue

The impressive silver Rupee was issued in the name of Queen Victoria at Radhanpur mint. The ruler of that time was Bismilla Khan of Radhanpur princely state. The obverse of the coin depicts, “Nawab Mohammad Bismillah Khan Bahadur Babi, AH 1299”. And the reverse of the coin shows, “Mallika-e-Moazzima Qaisar-e-hind Victoria, Zarb Radhanpur with Sanah 1881”.

Radhanpur was established in 1693 by Khan Jahan, the founder of the Babi dynasty who was the son of the Nawab of Junagadh, Jafar Khan. In 1813 the state came under the authority of the British East India Company and later was a part of the Palanpur Agency of Bombay Presidency. Radhanpur currently is a municipality and a city in the Patan district in Gujarat state. It once belonged to the Vaghelas, also called Lunavada after the VaghelaLunaji of the Sardhara branch. Subsequently, it was held as a fief under the Sultans of Gujarat by Fateh Khan Baloch and is said to have been named Radhanpur after Radhan Khan of that family. According to another tradition, the town is as old as 546 and was originally called Radandevpur, from Radan Dev, a Chavda chief.

The first Babi entered Hindustan in the company of Humayun. Bahadur Khan Babi was appointed faujdar of Tharad in the reign of Shah Jahan. His son, Sher Khan Babi on account of his local knowledge was sent to aid Prince Murad Bakhsh. In 1693, his successor Jafar Khan, obtained the faujdari of Radhanpur, Sami, Munjpur, and Tervada by his ability and local influence, with the title of Safdar Khan. In 1704 he was made governor of Bijapur (in Gujarat) and in 1706 of Patan. His descendent and son Khan Jahan, also styled Khanji Khan, received the title of JawanMard Khan and was appointed governor Radhanpur, Patan, Vadnagar, Vishalnagar, Bijapur, and Kheralu.

Image Courtesy: Mintage World