Indian Dokdo Coin: History and Kutch Monetary System

Illustrated Coin Details: 1.5 Dokdo

Illustrated Specimen: 1.5 Dokdo, 1929 (Princely State of Kutch, India)

Authority and Heraldry: This coin was issued during the joint regional ruling period of Khengarji III (the longest-reigning Maharao of Kutch, from 1875 to 1942) and George V, King of Great Britain and Emperor of India. The legends on the obverse and reverse are written in two scripts: Devanagari (Gujarati) and Persian-Arabic (Urdu). The coin features a trishula — a divine trident that stands as one of the primary symbols of Hinduism, along with a katar — a traditional Indian dagger that served as a heraldic symbol of the Princely State of Kutch. Minting was executed in the city of Bhuj.

1. PRINCELY STATE OF KUTCH (India, 17th-20th centuries): 1 dokdo = 2 trambiyo = 1/24 kori
2. PRINCELY STATES OF BHAVNAGAR, JUNAGADH, NAWANAGAR (India, 16th-20th centuries): 1 dokdo = 2 trambiyo = 1/24 kori
3. PRINCELY STATE OF PORBANDAR (India, 19th century): 1 dokdo = 1/8 kori

Origin of the name "dokdo": Numismatic dictionaries link this term to the word "દોક્ડો" in the Gujarati language — an ancient local unit of weight most commonly used for measuring pearls. This name is strictly endemic and was applied exclusively within the traditional monetary system of Kutch and neighboring regional states, having no direct equivalents in modern Indian currency terminology.

History and Evolution of the Dokdo

The Dokdo (plural — dokda) is a historical copper fractional coin issued by several Indian princely states, which remained in active circulation until the mid-20th century. The geography of its distribution was almost entirely limited to the territory of the modern state of Gujarat in western India, specifically within the princely states of Kutch, Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, and Nawanagar.

The Unique Monetary System of Kutch

The Princely State of Kutch maintained its own highly distinctive and complex monetary system that developed independently from many other regions of India. The primary silver unit was the kori. Since everyday market transactions required very small denominations, copper fractions with unique local names were minted:

• 1 dokdo = 2 trambiyo
• 1 dokdo = 1/2 dhinglo
• 1 dokdo = 1/6 dhabu
• 24 dokdo = 1 kori

Within this hierarchy, the dokdo occupied a vital middle link, proving to be an exceptionally convenient denomination for minor local trade and daily bookkeeping among merchants and ordinary citizens.

The End of the Dokdo Era

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, copper dokdo coins were produced in millions of copies, transitioning over time from traditional hammered coinage to modern machine-struck issues. A defining feature of these pieces was the presence of local scripts, the names of regional rulers, and original decorative motifs that were entirely unique to the Gujarat area. However, with the consolidation of British influence and the eventual dominance of the currency of British India, the practical use of the dokdo gradually declined. This denomination finally ceased to exist after 1947, following the integration of Kutch into the unified decimal monetary system of independent India.