Pioneer of Nanak Shahi Coins

Release of Nanakshahi Coins

Once the Halimi Raj was established at Lohgarh, Sikhs disowned the Mughal economy, and it was essential to usher Khalsa economic revolution. The previous economic system, characterized by heavy taxes, was replaced with a system that abolished taxes entirely. Instead, the focus shifted towards promoting both state and individual entrepreneurship, as well as trade activities, to generate revenue for the Khalsa State. General Banda Singh Bahadar issued Nanakshahi coins from the mint established at Lohgarh(Ganda Singh , Life  of Banda Singh Bahadar Based on Contemporary and Original Records, pages 82-83). He became the first ruler in world history to issue coins in the names of Guru Nanak sahib and Guru Gobind Singh sahib instead of issuing them in his name(The Sikh Review, Volume 60, Issues 703-708, page 41).

Obverse this Persian script:

“Sikka Zad Bar Har Do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast

Fath-i-Gur Gobind Singh Shah-i-Shahan Tegh-i-Nanak Wahib Ast.”

“By the grace of the true Lord, a coin representing both the spiritual and temporal realms was minted. Guru Nanak’s sword is credited as the provider’s source of all victories for Guru Gobind Singh, who is acclaimed as the King of Kings.”

Reverse Persian script: 

“Zarb Khalsa Mubarak Bakht Ba-Aman Ud-Dahr Zinat At-Takht Mashwarat Shahr.”

“At the Khalsa Takht (Lohgarh), where the auspicious fortune was struck, it became the refuge of the age, the ornament of the throne, and the city of the council.”

Khalsa coins offer valuable insights into the religious, political and economic landscape of Sikh rule. The intricate designs on Khalsa coins reflect the artistic style of the era and serve as a vital resource for historians and numismatists. Depicting Lohgarh as the Khalsa Takht on Khalsa coins highlights the site’s centrality in Sikh history and religion. The statement alludes to the unparalleled status of Lohgarh as the Khalsa Takht, illustrating its unique and sacred significance Sikh seat of power.

The issue of Nanakshahi coins by Banda Singh Bahadar marked a new era in the history of human civilization, as it represented the growing power of benevolent rule. In the 18th century, Persian was a commonly spoken language in diverse global regions, encompassing the ‘gunpowder empires’ of the Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal and Europe. The extensive reach of the Persian language made it a convenient option for inscribing coins, facilitating smoother communication across borders. The Nanakshahi coins, issued with Persian inscriptions, were easily recognized and accepted as a medium of exchange, facilitating trade and commerce across different regions. The use of a widely spoken language thus allowed the Nanakshahi coins to establish themselves as an international currency and played an important role in their success as a medium of exchange. After capturing Sirhind sarkar, the Sikhs transported two crore rupees from Mughal territory to Lohgarh(Kamvar, Tazkiratus Salatin Chugatta , page 334.).

Banjara Sikhs were trading globally, i.e., through the ‘gunpowder empires’ Mughals, Safavids, Ottomans, and other parts of the globe. With the emergence of these Khalsa coins, trade and commerce became more efficient for Sikh traders as they provided a standardized medium of exchange that people widely accepted. This led to the growth of Sikh centres named Tanda and settlements, as people could now engage in economic transactions with greater ease. The use of Sikh coins also facilitated the spread of the ideology of Guru Nanak sahib, as trade and commerce among Banjara Sikhs increased exponentially. Soon, Khalsa coins became part of the international economy, and they were also beneficial for the peasant class due to their high value. The commonwealth of Khalsa was created to facilitate the newly formed benevolent rule. Sikh coins also provided a means of raising revenues for the Khalsa state and were used to pay for his armies, fund public works, and buy arms and other supplies. This is also one of the reasons that the war against the Mughals, who controlled one-fourth of the world’s economy, lasted for more than six years.

Nanakshahi Royal Stamps

After the issuance of Nanakshahi (Khalsa) coins, Nanakshahi royal stamps were also issued, which had the following inscription:

Dego-Tego-Fateh-o-nusrat Bedirang

Yaftaz Nanak Guru Gobind Singh

The words suggest that the cauldron was used for feeding, the sword was used for defending, and victory was attained spontaneously and timely through the guidance of Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh. (Ganda Singh, Life of Banda Singh Bahadar, based on contemporary and original records , page 83.)

The issuance of official’s orders with Khalsa stamps embossed on them was a critical mechanism for the establishment of sovereignty, both in terms of creating a legal framework for the governance of Halimi Raj and in terms of creating a unified identity for the Sikh kingdom.

These orders and stamps were also used to create a sense of unity among the diverse regions of the Indian Subcontinent and the peoples under Sikh rule. Official orders were issued in Gurmukhi and other languages understood by the majority, which helped to ease communication and consolidate the ruler’s power. Furthermore, the royal seal or stamp added to the sense of shared identity and symbolized the unity of the realm.

The issuance of Sikh royal orders and stamps has historically played a crucial role in the establishment of Khalsa sovereignty by enabling General Banda Singh Bahadar to exercise greater control and influence over his territories. In the pre-modern era, when communication was limited, official orders were an important means of transmitting Banda Singh Bahadar’s directives to even far-off regions of the Sikh kingdom. The royal stamp or seal often accompanied it, which authenticated the document and added to its legal authority. Thus, these orders and stamps helped signify the ruler’s power and legitimacy and established their right to rule.

The establishment of the Halimi Raj was attributed to Guru Nanak patshah. Banda Singh Bahadar simply adhered to the principles set forth by Guru Nanak patshah. It is a unique fact that no other ruler in history has minted any currency under a name other than their own. Banda Singh Bahadar always referred to himself as Banda-e-Guru, meaning ‘The Slave of Guru’, reflecting his humanistic approach towards granting equal rights to all. He actively pushed for farmers’ rights and ensured that all individuals, regardless of their caste, were granted equal social privileges and land ownership.

Implementation of Nanakshahi Calendar

Banda Singh Bahadar was an avid follower of Guru Nanak sahib and his teachings. He recognized the importance of having a standardized calendar that aligned with the tenets of Sikhism. Therefore, he adopted and issued the Nanakshahi calendar, which provided a unique and distinct Sikh identity in terms of a calendar system(Ganda Singh, Life of Banda Singh Bahadar, based on contemporary and original records, page 84).  In the case of the Nanakshahi calendar, the implementation of this calendar system was important for Sikhs as it provided them with a calendar that was aligned with their specific religious beliefs and practices. It also helped to establish a sense of Sikh sovereignty and independence by creating a distinct identity for the Sikhs. Furthermore, the implementation of the Nanakshahi calendar was an important step in establishing a Sikh nation, which Banda Singh Bahadar advocated for during his rule. Adopting a unique calendar was one of the many steps in creating a separate identity for Sikhs and establishing sovereignty.

In summary, Banda Singh Bahadar played a significant role in adopting and issuing the Nanakshahi calendar, which became an essential aspect of Sikh identity. This calendar has a unique reference point and is based on the birth year of Guru Nanak sahib, providing Sikhs with a distinct calendar system that aligns with their religious beliefs and practices.

In May 1710 AD, General Banda Singh Bahadar dedicated his efforts to Lohgarh, overseeing the coordination of Khalsa forts located between Lahore and Bareilly in the conflict against the Mughals. Banda Singh Bahadar was an astute leader who understood the importance of strategic planning, and as such, he took into account all the necessary factors that could hinder the movement of his army.

At this time, Banda Singh Bahadar was privy to intelligence that the Mughal emperor was preoccupied with battles in the Deccan and Rajputana regions(Tazkirat us-Salatin Chaghta, pages 67-68.). Meanwhile, he continued his campaigns against the Mughals in Punjab and gathered support for his movement. In particular, after capturing the sarkars of Sirhind and Hisar, no Mughal mansabdar was daring enough to confront the Sikh movement. Banda Singh Bahadar crosses the Yamuna River and captures the sarkar of Saharanpur in June 1710 AD . The monsoon season was in July 1710 AD , and it was clear that if sarkar of Saharanpur was attacked during this time, it wouldn’t get reinforcement and supplies, and it would become easy to capture the pargana of Saharanpur.

On the other hand, the Sikh army was equipped with a large fleet of boats that were capable of transportation during floods. Large Sikh settlements were made during the time of Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh. Bhagat Ravi Das and Bhagat Kabir also played a significant role in Sikh population settlements between Yamuna doab and Ganga doab. Many forts were constructed in the adjoining Shivalik ranges by Banjara Sikhs, particularly Jaats and Banjaras. Leather dressers of this region became Sikhs in large numbers and joined the army of Banda Singh Bahadar(Edited by Prof Sukhdial Singh , Banda Singh Bahadar on the Canvas of History, page 36). Before attacking the sarkars of Saharanpur, Faizabad, Delhi, Badaun, Kumoan, and Awad, Banda Singh Bahadar revisited Panipat to supervise Sikh preparations as from this route, Mughal forces would rush towards Lohgarh.

Release of Nanakshahi Coins

Once the Halimi Raj was established at Lohgarh, Sikhs disowned the Mughal economy, and it was essential to usher Khalsa economic revolution. The previous economic system, characterized by heavy taxes, was replaced with a system that abolished taxes entirely. Instead, the focus shifted towards promoting both state and individual entrepreneurship, as well as trade activities, to generate revenue for the Khalsa State. General Banda Singh Bahadar issued Nanakshahi coins from the mint established at Lohgarh(Ganda Singh , Life  of Banda Singh Bahadar Based on Contemporary and Original Records, pages 82-83). He became the first ruler in world history to issue coins in the names of Guru Nanak sahib and Guru Gobind Singh sahib instead of issuing them in his name(The Sikh Review, Volume 60, Issues 703-708, page 41).

Obverse this Persian script:

“Sikka Zad Bar Har Do Alam Fazl Sachcha Sahib Ast

Fath-i-Gur Gobind Singh Shah-i-Shahan Tegh-i-Nanak Wahib Ast.”

“By the grace of the true Lord, a coin representing both the spiritual and temporal realms was minted. Guru Nanak’s sword is credited as the provider’s source of all victories for Guru Gobind Singh, who is acclaimed as the King of Kings.”

Reverse Persian script: 

“Zarb Khalsa Mubarak Bakht Ba-Aman Ud-Dahr Zinat At-Takht Mashwarat Shahr.”

“At the Khalsa Takht (Lohgarh), where the auspicious fortune was struck, it became the refuge of the age, the ornament of the throne, and the city of the council.”

Khalsa coins offer valuable insights into the religious, political and economic landscape of Sikh rule. The intricate designs on Khalsa coins reflect the artistic style of the era and serve as a vital resource for historians and numismatists. Depicting Lohgarh as the Khalsa Takht on Khalsa coins highlights the site’s centrality in Sikh history and religion. The statement alludes to the unparalleled status of Lohgarh as the Khalsa Takht, illustrating its unique and sacred significance Sikh seat of power.

The issue of Nanakshahi coins by Banda Singh Bahadar marked a new era in the history of human civilization, as it represented the growing power of benevolent rule. In the 18th century, Persian was a commonly spoken language in diverse global regions, encompassing the ‘gunpowder empires’ of the Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal and Europe. The extensive reach of the Persian language made it a convenient option for inscribing coins, facilitating smoother communication across borders. The Nanakshahi coins, issued with Persian inscriptions, were easily recognized and accepted as a medium of exchange, facilitating trade and commerce across different regions. The use of a widely spoken language thus allowed the Nanakshahi coins to establish themselves as an international currency and played an important role in their success as a medium of exchange. After capturing Sirhind sarkar, the Sikhs transported two crore rupees from Mughal territory to Lohgarh(Kamvar, Tazkiratus Salatin Chugatta , page 334.).

Banjara Sikhs were trading globally, i.e., through the ‘gunpowder empires’ Mughals, Safavids, Ottomans, and other parts of the globe. With the emergence of these Khalsa coins, trade and commerce became more efficient for Sikh traders as they provided a standardized medium of exchange that people widely accepted. This led to the growth of Sikh centres named Tanda and settlements, as people could now engage in economic transactions with greater ease. The use of Sikh coins also facilitated the spread of the ideology of Guru Nanak sahib, as trade and commerce among Banjara Sikhs increased exponentially. Soon, Khalsa coins became part of the international economy, and they were also beneficial for the peasant class due to their high value. The commonwealth of Khalsa was created to facilitate the newly formed benevolent rule. Sikh coins also provided a means of raising revenues for the Khalsa state and were used to pay for his armies, fund public works, and buy arms and other supplies. This is also one of the reasons that the war against the Mughals, who controlled one-fourth of the world’s economy, lasted for more than six years.

Nanakshahi Royal Stamps

After the issuance of Nanakshahi (Khalsa) coins, Nanakshahi royal stamps were also issued, which had the following inscription:

Dego-Tego-Fateh-o-nusrat Bedirang

Yaftaz Nanak Guru Gobind Singh

The words suggest that the cauldron was used for feeding, the sword was used for defending, and victory was attained spontaneously and timely through the guidance of Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh. (Ganda Singh, Life of Banda Singh Bahadar, based on contemporary and original records , page 83.)

The issuance of official’s orders with Khalsa stamps embossed on them was a critical mechanism for the establishment of sovereignty, both in terms of creating a legal framework for the governance of Halimi Raj and in terms of creating a unified identity for the Sikh kingdom.

These orders and stamps were also used to create a sense of unity among the diverse regions of the Indian Subcontinent and the peoples under Sikh rule. Official orders were issued in Gurmukhi and other languages understood by the majority, which helped to ease communication and consolidate the ruler’s power. Furthermore, the royal seal or stamp added to the sense of shared identity and symbolized the unity of the realm.

The issuance of Sikh royal orders and stamps has historically played a crucial role in the establishment of Khalsa sovereignty by enabling General Banda Singh Bahadar to exercise greater control and influence over his territories. In the pre-modern era, when communication was limited, official orders were an important means of transmitting Banda Singh Bahadar’s directives to even far-off regions of the Sikh kingdom. The royal stamp or seal often accompanied it, which authenticated the document and added to its legal authority. Thus, these orders and stamps helped signify the ruler’s power and legitimacy and established their right to rule.

The establishment of the Halimi Raj was attributed to Guru Nanak patshah. Banda Singh Bahadar simply adhered to the principles set forth by Guru Nanak patshah. It is a unique fact that no other ruler in history has minted any currency under a name other than their own. Banda Singh Bahadar always referred to himself as Banda-e-Guru, meaning ‘The Slave of Guru’, reflecting his humanistic approach towards granting equal rights to all. He actively pushed for farmers’ rights and ensured that all individuals, regardless of their caste, were granted equal social privileges and land ownership.

Implementation of Nanakshahi Calendar

Banda Singh Bahadar was an avid follower of Guru Nanak sahib and his teachings. He recognized the importance of having a standardized calendar that aligned with the tenets of Sikhism. Therefore, he adopted and issued the Nanakshahi calendar, which provided a unique and distinct Sikh identity in terms of a calendar system(Ganda Singh, Life of Banda Singh Bahadar, based on contemporary and original records, page 84).  In the case of the Nanakshahi calendar, the implementation of this calendar system was important for Sikhs as it provided them with a calendar that was aligned with their specific religious beliefs and practices. It also helped to establish a sense of Sikh sovereignty and independence by creating a distinct identity for the Sikhs. Furthermore, the implementation of the Nanakshahi calendar was an important step in establishing a Sikh nation, which Banda Singh Bahadar advocated for during his rule. Adopting a unique calendar was one of the many steps in creating a separate identity for Sikhs and establishing sovereignty.

In summary, Banda Singh Bahadar played a significant role in adopting and issuing the Nanakshahi calendar, which became an essential aspect of Sikh identity. This calendar has a unique reference point and is based on the birth year of Guru Nanak sahib, providing Sikhs with a distinct calendar system that aligns with their religious beliefs and practices.

In May 1710 AD, General Banda Singh Bahadar dedicated his efforts to Lohgarh, overseeing the coordination of Khalsa forts located between Lahore and Bareilly in the conflict against the Mughals. Banda Singh Bahadar was an astute leader who understood the importance of strategic planning, and as such, he took into account all the necessary factors that could hinder the movement of his army.

At this time, Banda Singh Bahadar was privy to intelligence that the Mughal emperor was preoccupied with battles in the Deccan and Rajputana regions(Tazkirat us-Salatin Chaghta, pages 67-68.). Meanwhile, he continued his campaigns against the Mughals in Punjab and gathered support for his movement. In particular, after capturing the sarkars of Sirhind and Hisar, no Mughal mansabdar was daring enough to confront the Sikh movement. Banda Singh Bahadar crosses the Yamuna River and captures the sarkar of Saharanpur in June 1710 AD . The monsoon season was in July 1710 AD , and it was clear that if sarkar of Saharanpur was attacked during this time, it wouldn’t get reinforcement and supplies, and it would become easy to capture the pargana of Saharanpur.

On the other hand, the Sikh army was equipped with a large fleet of boats that were capable of transportation during floods. Large Sikh settlements were made during the time of Guru Nanak to Guru Gobind Singh. Bhagat Ravi Das and Bhagat Kabir also played a significant role in Sikh population settlements between Yamuna doab and Ganga doab. Many forts were constructed in the adjoining Shivalik ranges by Banjara Sikhs, particularly Jaats and Banjaras. Leather dressers of this region became Sikhs in large numbers and joined the army of Banda Singh Bahadar(Edited by Prof Sukhdial Singh , Banda Singh Bahadar on the Canvas of History, page 36). Before attacking the sarkars of Saharanpur, Faizabad, Delhi, Badaun, Kumoan, and Awad, Banda Singh Bahadar revisited Panipat to supervise Sikh preparations as from this route, Mughal forces would rush towards Lohgarh.

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