When Jammu & Kashmir had Its Own Currency Notes!

(Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

The Erstwhile Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir had the unique distinction of having its own currency notes printed and circulated in 1877 AD during the reign of Maharaja Ranbir Singh.

The State used to issue these notes through its Treasury in 1877 (Samvat 1934).  These notes were being issued mainly for the payment to the State Treasuries of Land Revenue and other Government dues. The denominations ranged from a rupee to 1,000 rupees.

These notes used to bear the signatures of many Competent Authorities. In some notes, one finds the name of  Diwan Kirpa Ram as the chief signatory, while in a Twenty Rupee note, on its right corner, there is a mention of Mahesh Chander Vishvas in Nagari script.

Shrikar and Sun Emblem

All these currency notes of the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir depicted the  Sun as an Emblem with the word ‘Shrikar’ written in bold  Nagari letters beneath it in the  Centre.  Once issued, the notes were then stamped with a seal impression below ‘Shrikar’. This Persian seal reads ``Muhre Shrikar Qilimrau Jammun’’, meaning the “Land Revenue Seal of the Dominion of Jammu,” with the date 1934 (Samvat)  and the month in the oblong tables on its two sides.

The Notes used to carry six circles— three circles each on the left and right sides in vertical lines.  These three circles carried the numeral value in Nastalique, Nagari and Dogri scripts. Beneath the bold word Shrikar’ in Nagari, there is twice a mention of Jammu Kashmir and the date of printing these currency notes in Urdu.  However, most of the notes carry the Urdu dateline of  “Mah Vaisakh,  Samvat 1932’’. All these panels and circles were colored in pale gold and the rest in black.

Printing of Notes in Jammu

Such was the technology available in the State that these Currency Notes were printed in the State itself at Vidyavilas Press, Jammu. The interesting part is that the Dogri inscription is found side by side along with Urdu and Hindi.  Also, these currency notes were printed on a Watermark Paper with the words `LESCHALLAS’.  The Watermark paper used to be provided by Wiggins Teape Paper Company formed in 1761 in London.

Dimension of Notes

All notes measured roughly  160 mm. x 230 mm with some variation due to the uneven paper cutting. However, the print of the note on the hand-made paper for all denominations was 131 mm x 205 mm.

These currency notes of Jammu and  Kashmir ceased to exist after 1947 when the Princely State acceded to the  Union of India.