The history of Bharuch (Broach as the English called it) as an independent princely state is a very short one. Around the time the Mughal power was waning in Gujarat, the Nizam, as the Mughal Viceroy of Gujarat held Bharuch as his own fief. In 1736, he elevated Mirza Abdullah Beg, the Port commander of Bharuch to look after the assets and titled him Nek Alam Khan. Nek Alam soon assumed independence of both the Mughals as well as the Nizam and started to rule on his own. Though Bharuch was an important town during the Dehli and Gujarat Sultans and later the Mughals, none of these entities had established a mint in this town. A mint is said to have been established in Bharuch by the Nawab Mirza Beg (Nek Alam Khan II) in AH 1161 (1748 AD). Coins of Ahmed Shah Bahadur with the mint name Bharuch issued in his last years are known. These are the earliest known coins of Bharuch. The Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency mentions that in the early years of its existence the mint was not put to much use. Next are the coins in the name of the succeeding rulers – Nawab Mirza Ahmed Khan ino Alamgir II. Coins of Shah Alam II in his early RY's till around 13 can be classified as the coins of Bharuch as issued under the independent Nawab of Bharuch. The last date found on the Bharuch coins during this period is 1181. The coins show a 5 petal flower as a mint mark in the ‘Seen’ of the Julus – very reminiscent of the Surat coins of the same period. In 1772 (1186 AH), the British administration – after a lot of resistance took over the control of the state and the mint continued minting rupees but with a cross in the ‘Seen’ of the Julus replacing the 5 Petal flower. The mint was shut down in 1806 after having minted coins for the Marathas (Gwalior) & British.
½ Rupee - Imtaya-ud-Daula, KM#A36
Obv : Inscription
Rev : Cross mint mark
Details :
Plain edge
KM#A36
1 Rupee - Imtaya-ud-Daula, KM#36
Obv : Inscription
Rev : Cross mint mark
Details :
Plain edge
KM#36
References :
- http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=35893.0
- South Asian Coins & Paper Money (INDIAN EDITION) - Krause Publication
