The Uniform Coinage of India, British Imperial Period: Princely States, DEWAS, Senior Branch, Victoria [Krishnaji Rao II (1860-99)], original copper Proof Quarter-Anna, 1888, Calcutta, crowned and robed bust left, victoria empress, 4 panels in jabot, two flowers in lowest panel, v on bodice, rev. 1/4 anna dewas state s.b. india and date, all within scroll-like wreath of Indian flora, edge plain, 6.49g/12h (Prid. 1016 [Sale, lot 188]; Stevens website DS 16; KM. 12; cf. Fore II, 986). Minor hairlines on obverse, otherwise brilliant and practically as struck, reverse with a hint of original colour, very rare £1,500-£2,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Puddester Collection.

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Bt R. Weir (Unionville, ONT) September 1997.

Owner’s ticket and envelope.

Dewas, a Maratha city-state located in central India, was given to two brothers, Tukoji Rao and Jiwaji Rao, in 1726, as a reward for army services. The brothers divided the territory among themselves; their descendants ruled respectively as the senior and junior branches of the family, with increased British influence after 1818. From 1841 each branch ruled its own portion as a separate state, distinguished by Europeans as the senior and junior branches. Despite this, the lands belonging to each branch were intimately entangled; in Dewas city, the two sides of the main street were under different administrations and had different arrangements for water supply and lighting. Krishnaji Rao II (1849-99), the adopted son of Rukmangad Rao (1821-60) succeeded at the age of 11, but his reign of the senior branch was not a great success from an economic standpoint. The sixth rajah of the junior branch, Narayan Rao (1860-92), was only 3 years old when he succeeded his father in August 1864