Tipu Sultan 1/2 Paisa Kingdom of Mysore – Farrukhyab-Hisar mint ½ Paisa Copper RARE

Kingdom of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, (AH 1196-1213 AH/1782-1799 CE), Farrukhyab-Hisar mint, Denomination: ½ Paisa, Denomination: Copper, Weight: 5.39 grams, Diameter: 18 mm, Reference: C# 62, about very fine, rare.

Obverse: Elephant facing left with raised tail; above it the date in Arabic numerals (Mauludi era). 

Reverse: Mint name inscription: “Zarb Farrukhyab-Hisar”.

Tipu Sultan ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1782 to 1799 and is remembered as a bold, reform-minded ruler and a fierce opponent of British expansion. His administration was highly organized, with reforms in revenue, land records, irrigation, and state-controlled industries. Tipu Sultan encouraged trade, introduced new coinage, and modernized the army with rocketry and European-style training.

Militarily, he fought several wars against the British and also clashed with the Maratha Confederacy and the Wadiyar dynasty, as Mysore’s independence threatened their interests. Despite conflicts, Tipu maintained diplomatic relations with the Mughal Empire, formally recognizing Mughal authority to legitimize his rule.

Tipu Sultan patronized temples, granted donations to Hindu institutions, and followed a policy of state protection over religious sites. He was martyred in 1799 defending Srirangapatna; his tomb stands there today.

Farrukhyab-Hisar (present-day Chitradurga) was an important strategic mint town. Coins like this ½ Paisa reflect Tipu Sultan’s centralized and reformist monetary system.