Extremely Fine, Exceptional Rare.

Among Maratha coins the gold Hons of Shivaji have a legendary reputation. Very few pieces are known, apart from three in institutional collections, that the cataloguer is familiar with. Broadly they are divided into two categories – 'fine' style and 'crude' style. The one illustrated by Maheshwari & Wiggins belongs to the second category.
It is plausible that the 'fine' Hons, such as the one offered here, were struck in Maharashtra where the engravers knew the correct flow of Devanagari letters. The 'crude' Hons, on the contrary, were issued further South and/or later in the 18th century. The issue of 'fine' Hons commenced at the coronation of Shivaji, held at Raigad in June 1674. It is attested that as part of coronation rituals, Shivaji was lustrated by his ministers with several thousands of Hons who poured the coins over the king's body as he sat on his throne.
The design of the Hon stands testimony to Shivaji's simplicity and devotion to his culture. Among all contemporary Farsi coins, his issues stand apart bearing only Devanagari inscriptions which are devoid of any grand titles. It alludes to the traditional vision of Kingship where the king is merely a representative of the Gods, governing for the general wellbeing of his subjects and leading them towards prosperity and plenitude