2018-07-03 Tue

Bikaner today is the part of Rajasthan state, which was once ruled by the royal lineage of Rathore Rajputs. It was established by Rao Bikaji in between 1465 to 1504 AD. It also had strong ties with the Great Mughal Empire through contract and marriages and they gave an outstanding service in Mughal Army. But like all other Kingdom Bikaner also came under British rule in 1817 AD.

In 1876, the British offered to mint coins for the Princely States at no charge if they agreed to follow British designs, and Bikaner agreed. Coins were issued under this program only in 1894 and 1895, and Queen Victoria's portrait was featured on the coinage.

The above-mentioned silver Rupee which weighs around 11.66g minted in the reign of Ganga Singh. The obverse of the coin depicts the portrait of the Victoria Empress, with the name around the coin. The reverse has a legend ‘Maharaja Ganga Singh Bahadur’ in Devanagari and Persian script.

Image Source: Classical Numismatic Gallery