1857, First war of Indian Independence - Commemorative coin

In 1857 a revolt broke out in India against British Rule. It was started by soldiers of Meerut and later on many rulers of different states like Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, Mughal Emperor Bahadurshah, Nana Saheb Peshwa, Tatya Tope, Kunwarsinh of Jagdishpur and many others joined it. Within a short period it was spread throughout the whole country and became a serious challenge to the British Rule in India. It took nearly one and a half year to suppress this revolt. This revolt gave inspiration to Indians to fight for freedom. This revolt resulted in dissolution of British East India Company by Queen Victoria in 1858. And India was brought under direct rule of Crown of England.

The Indian Government is issuing a commemorative coin set on 150th anniversary of this ‘First War of Indian Independence’ in 2007. This set contains a hundred rupee and a five rupee coin. The reverse side of coin shows Rani Lakshmibai on a horse in the middle with Mughal Emperor Bahadurshah on right and Tatya Tope on left with soldiers below them. It is a very good and attractive design. This is the best way to pay tribute to these and many other freedom fighters who gave their lives to get freedom and independence.

MOTTOES ON COINS - PART II

Previously, part one was on the mottoes on coins of Great Britain. Here in part second information about mottoes on coins of rest of the world is given.

Mottoes can be prominently seen on the coins of India, U.S.A., France and many other African countries. The mottoes on African coins mostly reflects their sufferings during colonialism and their efforts to overcome it. The countries who have inscribed mottoes on their coins are listed below in alphabetical order.

AUSTRALIA

"ADVANCE AUSTRALIA"

This motto was inscribed only on the silver coins of King Edward VII and King George V.

BARBADOS

"PRIDE AND INDUSTRY"

BERMUDA

"QUO FATA PERUNT"

Meaning - Whither the fates carry.

BIAFRA

"THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL"

"PEACE UNITY FREEDOM"

Biafra was a part of Nigeria till 1967, when due to religious riots the Igbo people rebelled and announced themselves seceded from Nigeria. They also got recognition from many other countries. They issued new currency notes and coins by 1968. The first motto appears only on 1 pound coin, but the second motto appeared on all the coins of Biafra. But due to defeat in a war in 1969, the military heads of Biafra surrendered themselves to Nigeria. And now the currency has became obsolete. But the coins generally fetch a good value.

BOTSWANA

"PULA"

Meaning - Rain.

BURUNDI

"DANZA SABWA SAEWA"

Meaning - (something in Swahili language)


"UBUMVE IBIKORMA AMAJAMBERE"

Meaning - Unity, Work and Progress.

CHAD

"UNITE TRAVAIL PROGRESS"

Meaning - Unity, Work and Progress.

CONGO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

"JUSTICE PAIX TRAVAIL"

Meaning - Justice, Peace and Work.

COTE D'IVIORE

"UNION DISCIPLINE TRAVAIL"

Meaning - Unity, Discipline and Work.

DAHOMEY

"FRATERNITE JUSTICE TRAVAIL"

Meaning - Fraternity, Justice and Work.

DJIBOUTI

"UNITE EGALITE PAIX"

Meaning - Unity, Equality and Peace.

FRANCE

"XPS VINCIT XPS REGNAT XPS IMPERAT"

Meaning - Christ conquers, Christ riegns, Christ commands.

This motto is inscribed mostly on gold coins from the period of King Louis IX to King Louis XIV.

"LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE"

Meaning - Liberty, Equality and Fraternity.

This is a general motto which is seen on nearly all the coins of france. This motto first appeared on the coins after the reign of Napoleon III. And the same motto can be seen on the present day coins of France.

"TRAVAIL FAMILIE PATRIE"

Meaning - Work, Family and Fatherland.

This motto appeared on coins during the Second World War period to motivate the people for their country.

GHANA

"FREEDOM AND JUSTICE"

GUINEA REPUBLIC

"TRAVAIL JUSTICE SOLIDARITE"

Meaning - Work, Justice and Solidarity.

INDIA

"AUSPICIO REGIS ET SENATUS ANGLIAE"

Meaning - Auspiciois rule of Senators of Angles (English People).

This motto appeared only on few coins issued by British East India Company in Bombay Presidency and Madras Presidency from the period 1716 to 1858. The first two coins shown above are from Madras Presidency whereas, the third is from Bobbay Presidency.

"SATYAMEVA JAYATE"

Meaning - Truth Alone Triumphs.

India adopted this motto for their coins in 1979. Since then this motto is inscribed on all the coins of India till now.

INDONESIA

"BHINNEKA TUNGGAL IKA"

Meaning - Unity in Diversity.

JAMAICA

"OUT OF MANY, ONE PEOPLE"

LIBERIA

"SELF RELIANCE"

"THE LOVE OF LIBERTY BROUGHT US HERE"

MEXICO

"ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS"

Meaning - United Mexican States

NIGERIA

"UNITY AND FAITH"

"UNITY AND FAITH, PEACE AND PROGESS"

The first motto was used till 1976. But, Nigeria had a history of communal riots and violence. So to send the message of peace, the motto was made longer. All the coins of Nigeria bears the second till now.

SIERRA LEONE

"UNITY FREEDOM JUSTICE"

SOUTH AFRICA

"UNITAT"

Meaning - Unity.

UDAIPUR

"DOSTI LONDON"

Meaning - Friendship London.

This motto ws inscribed by the Udaipur (Mewar) State in order to show their loyalty to the Queen Victoria. Many states inscribed the name of British ruler on their coins, but here only this motto was used.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

"LIBERTY"

"IN GOD WE TRUST"

"E PLURIBUS UNUM

Meaning - Out of often, One.

Liberty is the oldest motto seen on most American coins since 1793. The second motto was adopted during 1860s and the third motto from early 1900s. All these three mottoes have been inscribed on all the coins of USA till now. But in Sacagawean Dollar and Presidential Dollar coins the second and third motto are inscribed on the edge on the coin.

MOTTOES ON COINS - PART I (GREAT BRITAIN)

Mottoes on coins have attracted lots of people. It conveys a national message from one end of a country to the other without any extra cost. It also shows the thinking and the behavior of the society and the government of that country. Many countries all over the world put mottoes on their coins. But Great Britain was using many different mottoes on their coins from very long time, so they have a vast history of mottoes on coins. Thereby I have divided this post into two parts. Part one covering only Great Britain on this topic and part two will cover rest of the world coins.

Mottoes on coins of Great Britain were largely of religious nature or had a reference to the politics of during those days. From time of Edward III to that of Charles II it became customary for all coins to bear mottoes. Different british rulers adopted different mottoes on coins. They mostly appeared in latin language.

EDWARD III

"POSVI DEVM ADVTOREM EMVM"

Meaning - I have taken God to be my helper.

This motto appears on the groats (4 pence) and half groats (2 pence) coins of Edward III. The same motto was also inscribed on coins of Henry VI, Edward IV, Edward VI, Richard III, HenryVII, Henry VIII, Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I.

EDWARD VI

"TIMOR DOMINI FONS VITAE"
Meaning - The fear of lord is the fountain of life.

"POSVI DEVM ADVTOREM EMVM"

Meaning - I have taken God to be my helper.

Edward VI was 9 years old when he was made King in 1547. It was feared that ambitious men close to him may grab his power and use it for their own needs. Therefore the shillings of his reign were inscribed with this legend.

MARY I

"VERITAS TEMPORIS FILLA"
Meaning - Truth is the daughter of time.

The Duke of Northumberland forced the dying King Edward VI to disinherit Mary and make Lady Jane as his successor. So the groat of Catholic Queen Mary bears this legend.

PHILIP & MARY

"POSVIMUS DEVM ADVTOREM NOSTRUM"

Meaning - We have taken God to be our helper.

JAMES I

"FACIAM EOS IN GENTAM UNAM"
Meaning - I will make them one nation.

"EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTOR INIMICI"

Meaning - Let God arise and let his enemies be scattered.

In the reign of King James I, the union of Scotland and England took place. So his coins bears these legends.

CHARLES I

"CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO"

Meaning - I reign with Christ as my protector.

"EXURGAT DEUS DISSIPENTUR INIMICI"

Meaning - Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered.

COMMONWEALTH PROTECTORATES - OLIVER CROMWELL

"GOD WITH US"

"PAX QUAERITUR BELLO"
Meaning - Peace is sought by war.

"HAS NISI PERITURUS MIHI ADIMAT NEMO"
Meaning - The penalty for clipping this coin is death.

In the reign of Cromwell for the first time a motto was adopted in plain english (first motto). The second motto shows the political conditions of the country during that time. The third motto was inscribed on the rim of the coin. This motto became a warning to coin clippers. This kind of motto for any coin is considered very harsh. It appeared on crown and half crown coins.

CHARLES II

"DECUS ET TUTAMEN"
Meaning - An ornament and a safeguard.

"CHRISTO AUSPICE REGNO"

Meaning - I reign with Christ as my protector.

Charles II became king after protectorates, and adopted this smooth legend. It appeared on the edge of five guinea, five pound and on the crown during the reign of King Charles II to Queen Victoria.

WILLIAM & MARY

"HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE DIEU ET MON DROIT"
Meaning - Shame be his who thinks ill of it.

GEORGE III

"HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE"

Meaning - Shame be his who thinks ill of it.

VICTORIA

"HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE"

Meaning - Shame be his who thinks ill of it.

This different but more sensible and powerful motto was inscribed on the jubilee shillings of Queen Victoria. This motto also forms an integral part of British Coat of Arms. As a numismatist, I personally think that this is the best motto to have appeared on any coin in the world till now. Previously the same motto was also inscribed on the 1 shilling and 6 pence coins of George III and George IV.

ELIZABETH II

"DECUS ET TUTAMEN"

Meaning - An ornament and a safeguard.

"PLEIDOL WYF I'M GWLAD"

Meaning - True am I to my country.

"NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT"
Meaning - No-one provokes me with impunity.

"STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS"

In this long reign of Queen Elizabeth II many mottoes have appeared on the coins. The first motto above is from the period of King Charles II. First three mottoes are inscribed on the edge of one pound coins and the last motto in english is found on the edge of two pound coins. This is the second ever motto to have appeared in English. All other mottoes are in latin language.

Besides all these mottoes, some other mottoes also appears on British coins which are combined with the title of the ruler. These mottoes are,

"DEI GRATIA"

Meaning - By the grace of God.

and,

"FIDEI DEFENSOR"

Meaning - Defender of the Faith.

These two mottoes were used with the title of the English king since King Henry VII. But the title of, Defender of the Faith appeared on all coins from the period of King George I. Previously this title rarely appeared on coins.