Tipu Sultan Kingdom of Mysore 1 Paisa Patan Mint Copper Coin 1794 AD

Kingdom of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, (r. 1782–1799 CE), Denomination: AE 1 Paisa (Zohra), Composition: Copper, Weight: 11.39 grams, Diameter: approximately 23 mm, Shape: Irregular, Mint: Patan (Seringapatam), Date: Mauludi Era AM 1223 (1794 AD), Reference: A similar type coin is listed in the Zeno Coin Database #386456, About Very Fine, with natural green patina and some edge cracks, Very Scarce.

Obverse: Royal Mysore elephant facing right with its tail raised in an aggressive, war-like posture, with Mauludi year 1223 (1794 CE) above its head, enclosed by a dotted border.

Reverse: Decorative Arabic-Persian inscription reading Zarb Patan with Zohra motif, surrounded by ornamental dots and a continuous dotted boundary. 

Tipu Sultan (1782–1799 CE) was the powerful ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore and the son of Haidar Ali. Known as the “Tiger of Mysore,” he fought several major conflicts against the British East India Company, particularly during the Anglo-Mysore Wars. He strengthened Mysore’s military organization, introduced administrative and economic reforms, developed trade relations with foreign powers, and modernized his army with the extensive use of artillery and rocketry. Tipu also introduced distinctive coinage and adopted the Mauludi Era for dating his coins. His reign ended in 1799 during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War at the fall of Seringapatam.

Coinage Note: This copper 1 Paisa (Zohra), also known as Zohra, was struck at the Patan Mint in Mauludi Era 1223 (1794 CE). The elephant with raised tail represents the distinctive Mysore coinage of Tipu Sultan, while the reverse bears the Patan mint inscription and Zohra designation. The Mauludi-dated copper Paisa formed an important part of Mysore’s circulating currency.