The Mintage of Sikh Coins at the Cis-Sutlej can be broken down into two major categories or regions. The major and most powerful region was controlled by the Phulkian Misl, which consisted of five different states. These states were Patiala, Nabha, Jind, Kaithal and Faridkot.

The Second group consisted of individual states controlled by Sikh Sardars and Raja’s. These were the states of Najibabad, Kalsia, Kapurthala and Buria.

Phulkian Misl

In 1764, the Patiala Mint was first established and started minting Silver Rupees. In 1766, the Kaithal Mint and the Nabha Mint were established, and started minting Silver Rupees as well. The Jind Mint was established between 1764 – 1789, again started by minting Silver Rupees. The Faridkot Mint only produced Silver Nazarana’s and Gold Mohurs in 1941, and nothing prior. These Faridkot issues were all used for special occasions and nothing was put into circulation.

One interesting fact was that many of these mints shared dies with each other. Hence, you will notice common caligraphy on some of the coins.

The Patiala Mint and Jind Mint was the first to issue Gold Mohurs under the Sikh Empire. The Patiala Mint issued its first gold mohur in 1777. In the case of the Jind Mint, no known dates are visible on the Gold Mohurs as the coins were made very crudely. Hence, the believe is the coins were minted between 1764 to 1789. Faridkot was the last state to issue Gold Mohurs in 1941.

Interestingly , none of these mints ever issued any Copper Coins for circulation. There are known Contemporary Forgeries that used copper as the base metal and then plated with silver. It could be the fact that the Phulkian Misl was very rich and powerfull and most of trading was done in Silver Rupees and Gold Mohurs. This is especially true with the Patiala Mint where one can observe Gold Mohurs issued under multiple rulers.

Other Non-Phulkian Misls

Between 1764 to 1785, the Najibabad Mint started issued coins. They only minted Copper Paisa’s, and never minted and Silver Rupees or Gold Mohurs.

In 1799, the Kalsia State, at the Chhachhrauli Mint, started issuing coins. Again, all known issues are of Copper Coins only, and no known Silver or Gold Mohurs are known. The weight of the Copper Paisa’s also did not follow the typical weight structure seen from other states, including Najibabad or even later Amritsar. All the known One Paisa’s are heavy weighted.

In 1805, the Kapurthala Mint issued the one and only Silver coin during the leadership of Raja Fateh Singh Ahluwalia. The believe is that this was only a mule piece and never used in circulation. No copper paisa’s or gold mohurs were minted.

In 1807, the Buria Mint was established under the leadership of Sikh sardars. Silver Rupees were issued, and no known Copper Paisa’s or Gold Mohurs were known to be issued. Buria Mint was only recently identified through the study of history and identification of Sikh Sardars ruling this town for a short period.

Interesting to note that majority of Sikh coins issued from this region were mainly Copper Paisa’s. This would lead us to believe that trading with Silver/Gold was done with coins from other rulers or Non-Sikh issues, or there was very little need for it as means for trading was likely lesser then other regions. Copper was probably the predominat material available in this region as well.