Summary

1 Paisa coin, issued by Maharaja Ranbir Singh in the Kashmir Princely State, India
Hammered copper coinage struck at the Srinagar mint in 1938 VS (1881 AD)

Obverse Description

Legend, mostly in Persian - '1938 Sri Ragunatha ji Saha zarb Srinagar'; below partly off flan, the English letters JHS for Jamu Hari Singh double struck

Reverse Description

Legend in Takari characters above a scimitar (handle off flan)

Edge Description

plain

Significance

Kashmir was taken from Afghan control by the Sikhs in 1819 and from them by the British in 1845. A year later it and Jamu were sold to Gulab Singh (father of the issuer of this coin) for 3/4 million pound sterling. The small denomination 1 paisa coin was introduced that year, 1846, and struck in many years until 1883.
The letters JHS on the obverse of this coin stand for Jamu Hari Singh although Valentine (vol.II p.250) records that they were also thought to stand for the Christian 'Jessu Hominum Salvator' - Jesus savior of men

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