The numismatic legacy of the Mysore Wodeyars

The coins minted in Karnataka by the kings of various dynasties have a special place in the annals of Indian numismatics. The coins of the Mysore Wodeyars seem to be the last in the series of Karnataka’s coins. It was the last dynasty to mint coins.

Benjamin Lewis Rice, as the director of the Mysore Archaeological Department, compiled the Epigraphia Carnatica, a series of volumes documenting inscriptions and coins from the Mysore region, including those from the Wodeyar period. Many of these coins are also displayed at the Reserve Bank of India Monetary Museum in Mumbai, which is home to one of the widest collections of Mysore coins.

The Wodeyar dynasty began under the vassalage of the Vijayanagar empire, and soon became independent after the Battle of Talikota in 1565.

Kanthirava Narasaraja Wodeyar (1638-59), son of Bettada Chamaraja V, was the first ruler who was completely sovereign. He established the first mint at Srirangapatna. 

He was the first ruler to issue gold coins, called ‘kanthirayas’ or ‘kanthiraya varaha’. It resembled Vijayanagar coins. The half varaha weighed 1.7 gm and had Lakshmi Narasimha on one side and a three-line Nagari legend with the ruler’s name on the other. He also issued panams, weighing 0.35 gm, with Narasimha on one side and his name on the other. He issued only gold coins.

The other ruler to issue gold coins in the denominations of varaha, half varaha and hana was Chikka Devaraya (1672-1704). These coins depict Balakrishna standing underneath an arch on one side and a three-line Nagari legend citing the ruler’s name on the other.

Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (1799-1868) issued gold coins as per Vijayanagar standards. Varahas, depicting a seated Shiva Parvati on one side and the Nagari legend with ‘Sri Krishnaraja’ on the other, became the major currency during this period.  

Alternative materials

Silver coins of the early Mysore rulers are not known. But plenty of silver coins were issued under Krishnaraja Wodeyar III as per Mughal standards. He also issued silver hanas carrying the image of Chamundi, the family deity of the Wodeyars. These types of coins were known as ‘Mayili hana’ and were issued in many denominations such as pavali, adda and haga.

During the rule of Krishnaraja Wodeyar II (1734–1766), a large number of copper coins, depicting Kannada numerals from one to forty on one side and chequered designs (criss-cross pattern) on the reverse, were issued. These coins were mainly known in Mysore and the adjoining regions. There were many other motifs, including gods and goddesses (Lakshmi, Ganesha, Hanuman) and animals (elephant, couchant bull, peacock, horse rider, deer, boar) on the coins.

Dewan Purnaiah, who looked after the administration of the state when Krishnaraja Wodeyar was young, reintroduced a gold varaha, which was earlier minted by Kantirava Narsaraja Wodeyar. But the coins reissued by Purnaiah are known as gidda kanthiraya. They resembled the original kanthiraya varaha. Krishnaraja Wodeyar III assumed full powers in 1811 and minted coins in gold, silver and copper.

Mayili money

Copper coins with animal motifs on the obverse and inscriptions in Nagari, Persian, Kannada and English on the reverse were minted in Mysore till 1833, and later in Bangalore till 1843. The term ‘Mayili kaasu’ is mentioned on the reverse of these coins.

The coins with elephant motifs on the obverse are usually attributed to Dewan Purnaiah or to Krishnaraja III.

Undated coins with lion motifs were issued by Krishnaraja III under his direct rule between 1811 and 1831.

A third type of coin, also with lion motifs, the date and mint are the issues of the British Commissioners. Though these coins retain the mint name of Mysore, they were minted at Bangalore. The Bangalore Mint was shut down in 1843.

The Mysore Mint was the mint of the Wodeyar dynasty, and was responsible for issuing coins with various denominations and designs. 

The coinage of the Mysore Wodeyars provides a fascinating glimpse into the region’s history, culture, and economic systems. From the early gold pagodas to the British-influenced coins, each piece reflects the evolving political and cultural landscape of the Mysore kingdom.