Baba would seek dakshina from select devotees — those whom He deemed deserving — and often returned a portion of it. Devotees considered this returned amount sacred and preserved it reverentially in their pooja. From the dakshina thus received, Baba extended regular financial support to certain devotees, such as Sri Bade Baba, Sri Tatya, and others who visited Him. A part of the dakshina was used to procure fuel for the dhuni and oil for lamps, and Baba generously gave money to artists and those in need. By the end of each day, He would distribute all the dakshina He had received. At the time of His mahasamadhi, Baba bestowed nine sacred rupees to Smt. Lakshmibai Shinde. 

Thus, in various chapters of the Sai Satcharitra, we find references to money.

A curious reader of the Sai Satcharitra may wonder: What was the currency system during Baba’s time? Were currency notes in use, or was it primarily coins? More importantly, have any of the sacred coins given by Baba been preserved?

This article seeks to explore and answer these questions.

This article offers a glimpse into the currency — both notes and coins — that were in use during Baba’s sacred sojourn in Shirdi.(approximately 1838 to 1918, reference Wikipedia).

As shown in the maps below, Shirdi was under the “East India Company” from 1838 to 1858, and later became part of the “Bombay Presidency” of British India until Baba’s mahasamadhi in 1918.