India, Kutch, 1943 AD., Vijayaridji, 1 Payalo, KM Y 79.

India, Kutch, Vijayaridji (1942-1948), Bikram Samvat era VS 2000 / 1943 AD.,
1 Payalo (1/4 Kori) (27 mm / 8,25 g), copper, center hole.
Obv.: VS-date plus Indian text, around center hole: trident on the left side, an arrowhead in the holder on the right side, and above them all, in the center — a crescent, his “horns” turned up.
Rev.: Indian and Persian text plus AD -date around center hole wreath and circle.
KM Y 79 .

Kutch was formerly an independent kingdom, founded in the late 13th century by a Samma Rajput branch called Jadeja Rajputs. The Jadeja dynasty ruled not only Kutch but also much of neighboring Kathiawar for several centuries until the independence of India in 1947. In 1815 Kutch became a British protectorate and ultimately a princely state, whose local ruler acknowledged British sovereignty in return for local autonomy. Bhuj was the Capital of Princely State of Kutch. One surviving relic of the princely era is the beautiful Aina Mahal ("mirror palace"), built in the 1760s at Bhuj for the Maharao of Kutch by Ram Singh Malam who had learnt glass, enamel and tile work from the Dutch. Along with that during that time period Kutch had its own currency, while the rest of British India was using rupees. The Maharao also had built at his expense the Cutch State Railway.