April

The museum houses a vast collection of historical, archaeological, and ethnographic objects from almost every part of the world. It also contains great collections of art, ancient and modern, and in various media. It is a great center for scholarly study and public interpretation of human culture from the earliest stone ages to the present.

The history and culture of Sikhs is represented best in the Museum by an interesting group of paintings in the Department of Asia and by a very important collection of Sikh coins in the Department of Coins and Medals. The main image is of a silver medal - a twelve pointed sun-burst star with the head of Maharajah Ranjit Singh in the centre.

Made in Lahore in 1837, this medal is part of an Order that was instituted by Ranjit Singh, known as “The Star of the Prosperity of the Punjab” (Kaukab-i-Iqbal-i-Punjab). The original decoration, which is below the portrait, stands an eagle with spread wings, perched on a naked sword. To commemorate the marriage of Prince Nau Nihal Singh, his grandfather, Maharajah Ranjit Singh instituted this Order of Merit on 8th March 1837, with Nau Nihal Singh as its grand master.

“... I wish you could walk through that same Toshakhana (Treasury) and see its wonders; the vast quantities of gold and silver; the jewels not to be valued; so many, and so rich, the Koh-i-noor, far beyond what I had imagined...”

Lady Login’s account of her visit to the Treasury of Maharajah Ranjit Singh, Lahore, November 2nd, 1849