India, Maratha Confederacy, 1674-1818 AD., struck in the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Bhosle, uncertain mint, Paisa, cf. Zeno 96184.

India, Maratha confederation, unattributable Shivarai Paisa, 1674-1818 AD.,
("Shivarai or Chhatrapati") Paisa (ø 18-19 mm / 9,01 g / 3 mm thickness), copper, axes (as pictured)irregular alignment ↑→ (ca. 100°),
Obv.: ᴜ श्री.. / राजा / [ शिव ] , ᴜ "Shri" / Raja / [Shiv(aji)] , "Mr. King Shiv(aji)" , "Shri" above double line on obverse, leaving no place for a date.
Rev.: छात्र / [ पति ] , Chhatra / [Pati] , his name in two lines.
cf. Zeno 96184 , (and - 56491) ; cf. Maheshwari & Wiggins, Maratha Mints and Coinage, Shivarai or Chhatrapati Paisa type T 11 or T 12d.

"Overlord": "These were struck over a long period and, as Richie observed, have several variations in terms of the words (and the spellings of the same), weight, size, and ornamentation. Most of these have Shivaji's name on the obverse, but some (which are much rarer) bear the names Sahu, Ram Raja, Raja Ram, and Sambhu. Only one type (Maheshwari/Wigguns T1) is thought to be struck during the reign of Shivaji.
Ref.: Maratha Mints and Coinage by K.K. Maheshwari and Kenneth W. Wiggins"

Shivaji Bhosale (19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680), with the royal title Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was a Maratha sovereign who founded the Maratha Empire, which, at its peak, covered much of the Indian subcontinent, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km². Shivaji as an aristocrat of the Bhosle clan led a resistance to free the Maratha people from the Sultanate of Bijapur and the Mughal Empire and established a Hindavi Swarajya ("self-rule of Hindu people"). He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital. He was crowned as Chhatrapati ("sovereign") of the Maratha empire in 1674.

The Maratha Empire (Marathi: मराठा साम्राज्य Marāṭhā Sāmrājya; also transliterated Mahratta) or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km². The Marathas are credited for the re-establishment of Hindu rule in India.
The empire was founded and consolidated by Chhatrapati Shivaji Bhosle. He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital, and successfully fought against the Mughals to defend his kingdom. The Maratha Empire waged war for 27 years with the Mughals from 1681 to 1707, which became the longest war in the history of India. The Marathas eventually emerged victorious. Shivaji pioneered "Shiva sutra" or Ganimi Kava (guerrilla tactics), which leveraged strategic factors like demographics, speed, surprise and focused attack to defeat his bigger and more powerful enemies. While Venkoji, the younger half-brother of Shivaji, founded the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom.
Afterwards, Shahu, a grandson of Shivaji became ruler. During this period, he appointed Peshwas as the prime ministers of the Maratha Empire. After the death of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the empire expanded greatly under the rule of the Peshwas. The empire at its peak stretched from Tamil Nadu in the south, to Peshawar (modern-day Pakistan) on the Afghanistan border in the north and led Expeditions to Bengal in the east. Ahmad Shah Abdali, amongst others, were unwilling to allow the Maratha's gains to go unchecked. In 1761, the Maratha army lost the Third Battle of Panipat which halted imperial expansion.
After 1761, young Madhavrao Peshwa reinstated the Maratha authority over North India, 10 years after the battle of Panipat. In a bid to effectively manage the large empire, semi-autonomy was given to strongest of the knights, which created a confederacy of Maratha states. They became known as Gaekwads of Baroda, the Holkars of Indore and Malwa, the Scindias of Gwalior and Ujjain, Bhonsales of Nagpur. In 1775, the British East India Company intervened in a succession struggle in Pune, which became the First Anglo-Maratha War. Marathas remained the preeminent power in India until their defeat in the Second and Third Anglo-Maratha Wars (1805–1818), which left Britain in control of most of India.
A large portion of the empire was coastline that had been secured by a potent navy under commanders such as Kanhoji Angre. He was very successful at keeping foreign naval ships, particularly of the Portuguese and British, at bay. Securing the coastal areas and building land-based fortifications were crucial aspects of the Maratha's defensive strategy and regional military history.