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Historical Research & Documentation

SikhCoins.in Sikh Empire Coinage

A comprehensive numismatic record of coins, medals and monetary history spanning the Sikh Empire and its predecessor states — from Banda Bahadur's earliest strikes to the fall of the Khalsa Raj.

1,259 Documented Coins
54 Curated Albums
3M Views
300+ Years Covered
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About this Archive

The coins of the Khalsa Raj — struck in gold, silver and copper — are among the most eloquent documents of Sikh sovereignty.

This database has been assembled over decades of research and field study, bringing together coins from museum collections, auction records and private holdings to create the most complete online reference for Sikh numismatics.

From the Archive

Featured Pieces

Exceptional coins from the collection

Banda Singh Bahadur Rupee

AD 1710 – 1716 · Year 2

Banda Singh Bahadur Rupee

The only known piece of Year 2 — among the rarest survivals of the first Sikh sovereign coinage, struck at the City of Counsel (Mashwarat Shahr).

Unique — Only Known Piece
Dal Khalsa Lahore Rupee VS1822

VS 1822 · AD 1765

Dal Khalsa, Lahore Rupee

Struck at Lahore following the Gurmatta of Vaisakhi 1765 — the declaration of Sikh sovereignty. The first rupee issued in the name of the Guru's from Lahore.

Declaration of Sovereignty
Portrait Rupee of Maharaja Ranjit Singh

VS 1885/93 · Lahore Mint

The Portrait Rupee

Struck during the marriage celebrations of Kunwar Naonihal Singh — one of the exceptionally rare portrait rupees bearing the likeness of the Maharaja himself.

Extremely Rare Portrait Issue

The Collection

Browse by Period

Coins arranged chronologically across the arc of Sikh political history

AD 1710 – 1716

Banda Bahadur's Coinage

The earliest Nanakshahi coins, struck during the brief Sikh kingdom at Lohgarh — a declaration of sovereignty in metal.

2 Coins
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AD 1716 – 1799

Misl Period Coinage

Coins of the Dal Khalsa Confederacy — struck at Lahore, Amritsar, Multan and Anandghar mints, bearing the Gobindshahi and Nanakshahi couplets.

167 Coins across 4 mints
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AD 1799 – 1849 · VS 1856 – 1906

Sikh Empire Coinage

The great coinage of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his successors — from the principal mints of Lahore, Amritsar and Kashmir to the frontier mints of Peshawar, Multan and Derajat. Silver rupees, gold mohurs and copper paisas across seventeen albums.

534 Coins · 17 albums · 14 mints
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AD 1764 – 1948 · VS 1821 – 2005

Patiala, Nabha, Jind & Kaithal

Coins of the Phulkian states — Patiala, Nabha, Jind and Kaithal — that came under British protection in 1809, striking Durrani and Gobindshahi rupees until merger into independent India.

186 Coins from 8 States
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Medals & Honours

Sikh Medals & Anglo-Sikh War Awards

Decorations of the Sikh Empire alongside the Sutlej and Punjab medals — artefacts of both Sikh glory and the conflicts that ended it.

81 Medals · 9 albums
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Numismatic History

A History in Coin

The monetary arc of Sikh political sovereignty

VS 1767 · AD 1710

The First Sikh Coins — Banda Bahadur

Following the capture of Sirhind, Banda Singh Bahadur struck the first coins in the name of the Khalsa, bearing inscriptions honouring Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh — a momentous assertion of independent Sikh sovereignty.

Read the History →

VS 1822 · AD 1765

Gurmatta & the Misl Confederacy

After the Declaration of Sovereignty at Vaisakhi 1765, the eleven Misls began issuing coins collectively in the name of the Dal Khalsa — a unique expression of collective Sikh governance through metal.

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VS 1856 · AD 1799

Maharaja Ranjit Singh & the Sikh Empire

With the capture of Lahore and subsequent coronation, Ranjit Singh unified the Sikh domains. The imperial mints at Lahore, Amritsar and later Kashmir, Multan and Peshawar struck an extensive and magnificent coinage under his reign.

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VS 1896 – 1906 · AD 1839 – 1849

The Last Kings & the Fall of the Khalsa Raj

Following Ranjit Singh's death, the empire's coinage continued under Kharak Singh, Nao Nihal Singh, Sher Singh and Duleep Singh — until the annexation of the Punjab by the British East India Company in 1849 brought the sovereign Sikh coinage to an end.

AD 1764 – 1948 · VS 1821 – 2005

The Cis-Sutlej States — Phulkian Coinage

The Phulkian states of Patiala, Nabha, Jind and Kaithal struck coins in the names of Ahmad Shah Durrani and — from VS 1893 — the Sikh Gurus, surviving as independent mints for nearly two centuries under British protection.

Read the History →
“
The coins of the Khalsa were unlike those of any other state — they bore not the name of a king, but of the Guru, affirming that sovereignty belonged to the Panth.
— Numismatic tradition of the Sikh Empire

Research Resources

Supporting Material

Reference works, forgery guides, stamps and scholarly articles

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Fakes & Forgeries

Documented fakes, forgeries and dubious attributions — essential reading for collectors

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Books & Publications

Published references and scholarly works on Sikh coinage

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Articles & Journals

Presentations and journal articles on Sikh numismatics

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Sikh Stamps

Stamps issued on Sikhism by countries worldwide

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Hoaxes

Non-Sikh coins frequently misattributed as Sikh issues

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Research Projects

In-depth compilations by mint and region for focused study