Rao Sri Lakhpatji I, Silver 1/2 Rupee, 5.68g, struck in the name of Ahmad Shah Durrani, AH 1169/RY 9, Obv: Couplet of Ahmad Shah Durrani “Hukm shud Qadar az bechun ba-Ahmad Badshah / Sikka zad bar Seem wa Zar az Awj Mahi ta ba-Mah” with date 1169, Rev: Persian legend “Zarb Bhujnagar sanah 9” within circle, Devnagari legend around “Miraja Raja Maharau Shri Lakhpati” separated by a Trident. About uncirculated, exceedingly rare. Recently sold at 6,25,000 Rupees in Indian Auction. This coin is a highly unusual piece of the Numismatic history of Kutch. The reign of Lakhpatji I is often considered to be a glorious epoch for the Jadeja lineage of Kutch, marked by peace and prosperity. However, the political picture across India was very different at this time – in the North the ambitions of the Marathas, the Rohillas and the courtiers of the Mughal court all clashed leading to a turbulent period. A key player in this was Ahmad Shah Durrani the Afghan ruler who desired to recover his claim on the Mughal subahs of Kashmir, Sindh and the Punjab. His expedition to upper Sindh in 1752 had already sounded alarm bells in Kutch. Probably as a measure to pacify the highly fearful Shah, Lakhpatji resorted to strike coins in his name, thereby nominally acknowledging his sovereignty. It is interesting to note that the dates on these ceremonial coins is AH1169 which is a year in advance of Ahmad Shah’s 4th invasion of India in which he occupied Delhi and staged a massacre at Mathura. Perhaps, Lakhpatji was being very cautious about the Shah’s intentions, which is a rare instance of political sagaciousness shown by a weak but prosperous ruler, to save his skin in view of an impending crisis.