Datia State (1626 -1950) and Coins

 

Datia State was founded in 1626 AD by Bundela Rajputs. Rao Bhagwan Rao, the first Rao (1626/1656 AD), received Datia and Baroni from his father, Raja Bir Singh Deo of Orchha in 1626 AD, and established his own State. Datia had formerly been a state in the Bundelkhand region. The ancient town of Datia is mentioned in the Mahabharata, ruled by King Dantavakra

                                           

One Rupee, Datia, Parichhat/ Bhavani Singh, 1778-1899 AD

It was the second highest in rank of all the Bundela states after Orchha, with a 17-gun salute, and its Maharajas bore the hereditary title of Second of the Princes of Bundelkhand. The land area of the state was 2,130 square miles (5500 square km), its population in 1901 was 53,759. 

                                              

Datia State in the Imperial Gazetteer of India

Coat of Arms                                           

 

The state came under British control with other territories in Bundelkhand under the Treaty of Bassein in 1802, by the seventh Raja, Parichhat. The ancient title of the family was Maharaja Rao Raja, but in 1865, the Government recognized only the title of Maharaja as hereditary. The Maharaja maintained a military force of 945 cavalry, 5203 infantry and 124 guns. The motto of the family is ''Wir dalap Sharandah'' (lord of the brave army, giver of refuge)

67 km away from the city of Gwalior lies the Datia Palace where no one has ever lived. The Palace called as Bir Singh Palace, named after Maharaja Bir Singh Deo is an imposing beauty that is unlike most other palaces in the country, as its builder never lived here. The seven-floor palace built in Hindu domestic architectural style is stunning to look at.

                                          

     Bir Singh Deo Palace, Datia, 1928

                                           

      Bir Singh Palace as seen now                                           

 

In 1947, Datia became a part of India. It became part of the new state of Vindhya Pradesh in 1950 and in 1956, formed part of Madhya Pradesh.    

Coins of Datia. Datia and Orchha Gaja Shahi series coins are very similar and are separated by the obverse symbol, which usually has five dots, ''lobes'' for Datia coins, but three for Orchha.

                                           

Bhawani Singh, 1/2 Paisa, 1796-1817 AD, copper, weight 6.1 gm, reverse has Datia mint mark

 

                                               

Bhawani Singh, One Paisa, 1816-1903 AD, copper, weight 12.2 gm, Obverse has RY Date 33, reverse has Datia mint mark

                                              

Half Rupee, Bhawani Singh, 1894-1900 AD, silver, weight 5.4 gm, Obverse: Inscription and AH Date, Reverse: Inscription, mint mark and regnal year

                                             

One Rupee, Raja Shahi Series, 1758-1774 AD, silver, weight 10.9 gm, Obverse: AH and Date, Reverse: Regnal year 6

                                            

One Rupee, Shah Alam II, Dalipnagar mint, 1765 AD, silver, weight 10.8 gm, Obverse: Inscription Shah Alam II, AH, Date, Reverse: Mint name, RY 6 

                                             

One Rupee, Parichhat/ Bijai/ Bhavani Singh, 1778-1899 AD, silver, weight 11.3 gm, Obverse: Mint name and AH Date 1277, Reverse: Datia Mint mark and RY Date 41

Datia State

Coins of Datia State