Silver Nazarana Rupee, 10.99g, Shahjahanabad Mint, AH 1220/ RY 48, Obv: Legends with poetical couplet; AH date with parasol and flower mint marks, all within a border of roses, ivy and berries, Rev: Continuation of legends with regnal year and mint, all within a border of roses ivy and berries (KM# 714). Very fine+, extremely rare.
The floral border is clearly emblematic of Christmas celebrations. While the Mughal emperor was completely a vassal of the British East India company at this time, there must have been a specific rationale for this special representation, which only occurs for two years, AH 1219 and 1220. This was the time of the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805), when Jaswant Rao Holkar struck against the British in North India, besieging Agra and Delhi. General Lord Lake relieved Bharatpur, Deeg and Delhi in November 1804, and the war carried on for another year until the Marathas agreed to a peace treaty in January 1805. This covers two Christmas seasons and correspond to the AH/RY combinations seen on these specially struck rupees.