Nanakshahi - Sarkar-e-Khalsa 2025 Calendar - 11" x 14" Print

Under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh Empire's coinage system played a key role in unifying diverse regions under a single economic and spiritual framework, fostering stability and growth. Minted primarily in silver and occasionally in gold, the coins were produced across up to eight locations, including Amritsar. Known for their purity, they were widely accepted across Central Asia. A single silver Nanakshahi rupee, weighing around 11.3 grams, was equivalent to 13 Sterling Pounds of the British Empire of the day.

Skilled artisans were central to the production of these coins. Ranjit Singh, often reinstating Mughal craftsmen, ensured that only high-quality currency was minted. Notably, the coins bore no mention of the Maharaja's name, featuring the Sikh Gurus insignia instead.

The standard Nanakshahi rupee often carried inscriptions honouring Guru Nanak Dev Ji and Guru Gobind Singh Ji, symbolising that the Sikh Raj was guided by Divine Will. One inscription reads: "Degh Tegh Fateh Nusrat Bedrang, Yaft az Nanak Guru Gobind Singh," meaning "The kettle to feed, the sword to defend, and the resultant victory have been achieved with the help of Guru Nanak and Guru Gobind Singh."

This coinage system not only facilitated trade and taxation but also embodied the spiritual and political unity of the empire. It marked Maharaja Ranjit Singh as a visionary leader, elevating the prestige of his reign and strengthening the foundation of an expanding Sikh state.