2026-08-12 Wed

The Princely State of Jaipur was one of the most prominent Rajput states of Rajputana, ruled by the Kachwaha clan. Its legacy was shaped by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II (r. 1699–1743), a remarkable astronomer, mathematician, and urban planner.

In 1727, Jai Singh II founded Jaipur as a carefully planned capital, designed on a grid inspired by Vastu Shastra, with broad avenues, fortified walls, and organized quarters—an extraordinary vision for its time.

The city later became famous as the “Pink City.” Beyond its iconic architecture, Jaipur was known for its sophisticated court culture, military strength, and economic prosperity, making it one of the leading states of Rajputana.

Sawai Jai Singh III (25 April 1819 – 6 February 1835) was the Kachwaha Maharaja of Jaipur. He was the posthumous son of Maharaja Jagat Singh, born four months after his father’s sudden death.

Jaipur’s coinage in this period followed the established pattern of issuing silver rupees, copper paisas, and occasional gold coins primarily in the name of the Mughal emperor Muhammad Akbar II. The distinctive mintmark of Jaipur was the jhar (a six-branched leaf or sprig), which appears on most issues. Regular circulation coins were often struck on smaller flans with partial legends, while Nazarana were deliberately made larger, heavier, and better-struck so that the full die impression and legends were visible. These prestige coins were intended for ceremonial presentation, gifts, or formal occasions rather than everyday use.

Here, copper Nazarana Paisa weighs 18.82 g. It was struck at the Sawai Jaipur mint in the name of Muhammad Akbar II and dated to his Regnal Year (RY) 27. The obverse of the coin depicts Persian legends naming Muhammad Akbar II with titles such as “Sahib Qiran Sani,” “Badshah Ghazi,” and related formulas, often with the Hijri date. The reverse features the julus (regnal year 27) formula, mint name “Sawai Jaipur,” and the characteristic jhar mintmark.