The princely state of Hyderabad, ruled by the Asaf Jahi dynasty, was the wealthiest and most influential state in pre-independence India. Collecting Hyderabad Nizam coins offers a window into this lavish kingdom, which maintained its own autonomous postal system, railway, and sovereign currency: the Osmania Sicca.
The Iconic Charminar Rupee
First introduced in 1903 by Mir Mahbub Ali Khan and perfected under Mir Osman Ali Khan, the famous "Charminar Rupee" depicts Hyderabad’s legendary four-minaret monument on the obverse. Inside the arch of the gateway sits the Urdu letter ‘Ain’, paying homage to the Nizam's initials.