2018-11-20 Tue

The Princely State of Tonk accepted the British suzerainty in the year 1817. After the country achieved independence in the year 1947, Tonk state acceded to the newly formed Union of India.

The founder of the state was Nawab Muhammad Amir Khan (1769-1834), an adventurer and military leader of Pashtun descent from Afghanistan. Amir Khan rose to be a military commander in the service of Yashwantrao Holkar of the Maratha Empire in 1798. In 1806, Khan received the state of Tonk from Yashwantrao Holkar. In 1817, after the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Amir Khan submitted to the British British East India Company, he kept his territory of Tonk and received the title of Nawab.

During the reign, Amir Khan issued silver and copper coins in the denomination of Paisa and Rupee. These coins were issued from Sironj and Tonk mints. Represented here is Amir Khan’s silver Rupee which issued in the name of Muhammad Akbar II in 1232 AH. Todywalla Auctions sold this coin for INR 4,500. The Persian legend ‘Sikka Mubarak Sahib-e-Qiran Sani Muhammad Akbar Shah Badshah’ bore on the obverse face of the coin. The reverse depicts the mint name, Sanah, and Julus formula.

Image Source: Todywalla Auctions