Coin India Mewar / Udaipur, Fateh Singh - 1 Pie - VS 1978 (1921)

This one pie coin was issued by the princely state of Mewar, whose capital was Udaipur, during the reign of Fateh Singh. It is dated year 1978 of the Vikram Samvat calendar, corresponding to the year 1921 of the Gregorian calendar.

The pie was a traditional monetary subdivision used in the Indian subcontinent, representing one of the smallest units of the monetary system then in use. This local issue bears witness to the monetary prerogative still held by the princely states under British suzerainty.

Fateh Singh (1849?1930) ruled Mewar from 1884 to 1930. Known for his attachment to his state's sovereignty and to Rajput traditions, he maintained often tense relations with the British colonial administration, particularly due to his opposition to certain initiatives aimed at strengthening imperial influence over the princely states. The year 1921 also corresponds to a period of intense political unrest in India, marked by the rise of the non-cooperation movement led by Gandhi against British rule. Mewar, one of the oldest and most prestigious Rajput states, was then facing the challenges of gradual modernisation while seeking to preserve its institutions and historical identity.

The minting of this coin thus takes place in a context of profound political and social transformations that foreshadowed the major developments in India over the following decades.