Maratha Confederacy, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Silver Rupee, Obv: sri jagadamba prasanna, Rev:  raja shiv chhatrapati, 11.45g, 20.5mm, (Maheswari & Wiggins # T1, Pg21; Article by Prashant Kulkarni in the Journal of MCS), about very fine, Extremely Rare.

Maheshwari & Wiggins in their book mentions about this historically important coin of Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that these were probably struck at Rajgad on the occasion of Shivaji’s Coronation which lasted from 30^th May – 6^th June 1674.

This is an undated rupee with nagari legends, though many of the letters fall off the flan but a reasonable construction may be made from what can be seen. The reverse reads as Raja/ Shivachha/ trapati and it is possible that Shri precedes this, and the obverse is certainly as Shri Ja/gadamba(be) prasanna.

The obverse reading of the coin which is Jagadamba Prassana has an important meaning which states “illustrious jagadambe/happy jagadamba”. It is believed that Jagadamba (Jagat Amba) is the mother of the world and one of the avatars of the goddess Bhavani who is also the family deity (Kul-Devi) of Shivaji and also one of the chief deities of the Marathas. Many instances were recorded by Grant Duff where Shivaji claimed to have been inspired on the important occasions by Goddess Bhavani. Shivaji had also built a shrine in paying the respect to her at Pratapgarh and even named his sword after her. It is also reported that the necklace made out of these coins is worn by the Goddess Tulja Bhavani, the deity of Tuljapur located in the Osmanabad district of Maharashtra.