Kingdom of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, (AH 1196-1213 AH/1782-1799 CE), Faiz Hisar (Full mint), Denomination: 1 Paisa, Composition: Copper, Weight: 9.92 grams, Diameter: 22 mm, Unlisted in KM, about very fine, very scarce.

Obverse: Elephant facing left with raised tail; above it the date in Arabic numerals (Mauludi era AM 1218), Surrounded by a dotted border.

Reverse: Mint name inscription: “Zarb Faiz Hisar”.with Surrounded by a dotted border.

In the numismatics of Tipu Sultan, Mauludi Era (AM) 1218 corresponds to approximately 1789-1790 CE. This era was introduced by Tipu Sultan, based on the birth year of the Prophet Muhammad, as a luni-solar calendar system to replace the traditional Hijri calendar.

Key details regarding coins from AM 1218:

Minting Locations: Coins minted in 1218 AM were produced at several, including Patan (Seringapatam), Bengaluru, Farrukhi (Calicut), and Faiz Hisar (Gooty).

Common Denominations: 1/4 Paisa (Copper/Akhtar), 1/2 Paisa (Copper/Behram), 1 & 2 Paisa (Copper/Usmani), Gold Fanams, and Silver Rupees (Imami) were minted.

Tipu Sultan ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1782 to 1799 and is remembered as a strong, reform-oriented ruler and a determined opponent of British expansion. His administration placed great emphasis on a centralized monetary system, introducing distinctive copper, silver, and gold coinages marked by clear mint names and dates, such as this 1 Paisa copper coin struck at the Faiz Hisar mint.

Tipu Sultan’s reforms extended to revenue administration, land records, irrigation, and state-controlled industries, all of which required a steady supply of low-denomination copper currency for local circulation and market transactions. Coins like this Paisa were intended for everyday use, reflecting the economic life of Mysore’s towns and military centers.

Militarily, Tipu fought multiple wars against the British East India Company and also faced opposition from regional powers, yet he continued to assert sovereignty through symbols of state authority, including coinage. The Faiz Hisar mint, a strategically important location, functioned as part of this wider fiscal and administrative network.

Tipu Sultan was martyred in 1799 while defending Srirangapatna, bringing an end to independent Mysore rule. Today, very scarce copper issues like this Faiz Hisar 1 Paisa stand as tangible evidence of his structured governance and reformist economic policies.

Sold out