Tonk Princely State (1806-1949) and Coins

 

Tonk State was located in the region bordering present day Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states that is now Tonk district. The total area of the princely state was 2553 square miles and the total population in 1901 was 273,201.

                                           

Tonk State coin, Muhammad Ibrahim Ali Khan, 1/2 Rupee, AH 1317
                                              

Tonk state in the Imperial Gazetteer of India 
 

The history of Tonk is very old as it is connected with Bairath culture. It was known as ''Samwad Lakshya'' in Mahabharata period. The region was under the Mauryas before it merged with the Malvas. Later most of the region was part of Harsh Vardhan empire. In the regime of Rajputs, the parts of this state were under Charvas, Solankis, Kachvahs, Sisodiyas and Chouhans. Jaipur's King Man Singh conquered Tari and Tokra janpad in the regime of Akbar. In 1643 twelve villages of Tokra janpad were given to Bhola Brahmin who gave the name of Tonk to these 12 villages.

The founder of the Tonk state was Nawab Muhammad Amir Khan (1769-1834), an adventurer and military leader of Pashtun descent. He was a military commander in the service of Yashwantrao Holkar of the Maratha empire in 1798. In 1806, Khan received the state of Tonk from Yashwantrao Holkar.

Flag                

                           

Flag of the Tonk state

Coat of Arms              

                             

Coat of Arms, Tonk State

In 1817, after the Third Anglo-Maratha War, Amir Khan submitted to the British East India Company. on the condition that the British enlist his men and buy his artillery. The army consisted of 52 battalions of infantry, 15000 cavalry and 150 artillery.  As a result, he kept the territory of Tonk and received the title of Nawab. 

                                           

Jama Masjid, Tonk, started by Amir Khan in 1830, and completed by his son

While retaining internal autonomy and remaining outside British India, the state came under the supervision of the Rajputana Agency and consisted of six isolated districts. Three of these were under the Rajputana Agency, namely, Tonk, Aligarh (formerly Rampura) and Nimbahera. The three others, Chhabra, Pirawa and Sironj were in the Central India Agency. It was the only princely state of Rajasthan with a Muslim ruling dynasty.

                                                                                       

Bisaldeo Temple, on Banas river, with submerged courtyard, commissioned by Chahamana ruler, Vigraharaja in the 12th century

Following the Independence of India, Tonk acceded to the dominion of  India on 7 April 1949. Subsequently, most of the area of the state was integrated into Rajasthan state, while some of its eastern enclaves became part of Madhya Pradesh.

Coins of Tonk State

                                           

One Rupee, Wazaif Muhammad Khan, 1805-1853, silver, weight 10.6 gm, obverse has inscription, ''sikka mubarak, sahib-e-qiran sani'' and reverse has mint Sironj 

                                              

One Rupee, Mohammad Ibrahim Ali Khan, 1875-1898, silver, weight 10.9 gm, obverse has a leaf (Tonk mint mark) and AH 1305, lettering Mohammad Ibrahim Ali Khan, Reverse has Georgian date in Persian 1888 and lettering Victoria Empress

                                             

One Rupee, Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, 1911-1930, silver, weight 11.1 gm, Obverse has inscription and date, George V, 1925, Reverse has lettering Mohammad Ibrahim Ali Khan and date

  

                                               

1/8 Rupee, Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, 1922-1928, silver, weight 1.3 gm, Obverse has George V and Reverse has lettering Mohammad Ibrahim Ali Khan

                                               

1/8 Rupee, Mohammad Saádat Ali Khan, 1935, silver, weight 1.3 gm, Obverse has lettering Muhammad Sa'adat Ali Khan Nawab and Reverse has inscription King George V with lettering Mua'zzam Qaisar Shah George Pancham, zarb Tonk

                                               

 

1Pice, Mohammad Saádat Ali Khan, 1932, copper, weight 4.8 gm, Obverse has star within crescent moon, crossed swords and shield. date below inside circle ''Sanah hijri 1350'', legend outside circle ''hiz hainess nawab muhammad sa'adat ali khan sahib bahadur, wali riasat tonk'' and Reverse has leaf mark, date below, legend in Pashto within circle (above leaf mark) ek paisa, below leaf mark, sanah iswy 1932, legend outside circle, ''Bi''ahdi malikah muazam qaiser-i-hind, George pancham''

                                               

1/4 Rupee, Mohammad Ibrahim Ali Khan, 1935, silver, weight 2.7 gm, AH 1317, with the name of Victoria Empress RY 13

Tonk Princely State

Coins of Tonk State