The Nicholas Rhodes Collection: Coins of North East India (Part 2) by Spink and Son

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THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION:

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTON: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)  27 SEPTEMBER 2016



STAMPS COINS BANKNOTES MEDALS BONDS & SHARES AUTOGRAPHS BOOKS WINES

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 241

COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

27 SEPTEMBER 2016

LONDON

SALE CALENDAR 2016/2017

GROUP CHAIRMAN AND CEO Olivier D. Stocker YOUR SPECIALISTS STAMPS UK - Tim Hirsch FRPSL Guy Croton David Parsons Nick Startup Neill Granger Paul Mathews Dominic Savastano Tom Smith George James Ian Shapiro (Consultant) USA - George Eveleth Richard Debney EUROPE - Guido Craveri Fernando Martínez CHINA - George Yue (Consultant) Alan Ho COINS UK - Richard Bishop Tim Robson Lawrence Sinclair Barbara Mears John Pett USA - Greg Cole Muriel Eymery Stephen Goldsmith (Special Consultant) CHINA - Kin Choi Cheung Paul Pei Po Chow BANKNOTES UK - Barnaby Faull Andrew Pattison Monica Kruber Thomasina Smith USA - Greg Cole Stephen Goldsmith (Special Consultant) CHINA - Kelvin Cheung Paul Pei Po Chow ORDERS, DECORATIONS, MEDALS & MILITARIA UK - Marcus Budgen BONDS & SHARES UK - Mike Veissid (Consultant) Andrew Pattison Thomasina Smith USA - Greg Cole EUROPE - Peter Christen CHINA - Kelvin Cheung BOOKS UK - Philip Skingley Gillian Watson Nik von Uexkull AUTOGRAPHS USA - Greg Cole Stephen Goldsmith (Special Consultant) WINES CHINA - Guillaume Willk-Fabia Angie Ihlo Fung YOUR EUROPE TEAM (LONDON - LUGANO) Directors Tim Hirsch Anthony Spink Auction & Client Management Team Mira Adusei-Poku Rita Ariete Grace Hawkins Dora Szigeti Nik von Uexkull Tom Hazell John Winchcombe Tatyana Boyadzhieva Maurizio Schenini Finance Alison Bennet Marco Fiori Mina Bhagat Dennis Muriu Veronica Morris Varranan Somasundaram IT & Administration Berdia Qamarauli Michael Lewis Liz Cones Curlene Spencer Tom Robinson Cristina Dugoni Giacomo Canzi YOUR AMERICA TEAM (NEW YORK) Managing Director Charles Blane Auction Administration and Marketing & Design Polona Hribovsek Finance & Administration Amit Ramprashad Auctioneer Stephen Goldsmith (Special Consultant) YOUR ASIA TEAM (HONG KONG - SINGAPORE)

STAMPS 31 August - 12 September 10 September 10 September 20 September 23 September 15 October 25 October 26/27 October 10 November

The Philatelic Timed Auction featuring Fine Early India Fine Classic India Stamps and Covers of South East Asia The John Clemente Collection of Tasmania Postal History The James B. Hamlin Collection of Great Britain and British Commonwealth The Philatelic Collector’s Series Sale British Africa, The David Pitts Collection The Philatelic Collector’s Series Sale The Philatelic Collector’s Series Sale including Important Colombia, Italian P.O.’s in China and Bulgaria The Philatelic Collector’s Series Sale

London Singapore Singapore London New York Hong Kong London London

Hong Kong London London London London New York

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London London London

16022 16007 16007

15 January 16 January

The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale Timed Auction - The South Asian Coins of Dr. Philippe Taugourdeau The Academic Collection of Lord Stewartby: English Coins part 3, Gold Coins Ancient, British & Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals The Nicholas Rhodes Collection: Coins of North East India (Part 2) The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale The Academic Collection of Lord Stewartby: English Coins part 4, Coins of Edward III to Richard III Ancient, British & Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals Ancient, British & Foreign Coins and Commemorative Medals The Academic Collection of Lord Stewartby: English Coins part 5, Tudor, Stuart and Later Coins Numismatic Auction at NY INC, Waldorf Astoria The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale

BANKNOTES 17/18 August 28/29 September 4 October 19/20 October 7 December 13 January 16 January

The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale World Banknotes British Banknotes - including the Collection of the Institute of Scottish Bankers The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale World Banknotes World Banknotes at NY INC, Waldorf Astoria The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale

Hong Kong London London New York London New York New York

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MEDALS 24 November 16 January

Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale

London New York

16003 329

BONDS & SHARES 17/18 August 19/20 October 10 November 18 November 16 January

The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale Bonds & Share Certificates of the World Bonds & Share Certificates of the World The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale

Hong Kong New York Lugano London New York

AUTOGRAPHS 19/20 October 16 January

The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale

New York New York

WINES 13 October

An Evening of Great Whiskies and Spirits

Hong Kong

November COINS 17/18 August 19 - 29 September 26 September 26/27 September 27 September 19/20 October 29 November 30 November 1 December tbc

Administration Angie Ihlo Fung Newton Tsang Sue Pui Arthur Chan Gary Tan

The above sale dates are subject to change Ken japan@spink.com

Spink offers the following services: – VALUATIONS FOR INSURANCE AND PROBATE FOR INDIVIDUAL ITEMS OR WHOLE COLLECTIONS – – SALES ON A COMMISSION BASIS EITHER OF INDIVIDUAL PIECES OR WHOLE COLLECTIONS –

Lugano New York

London New York New York

16047 16031 16032 16044 157 CSS20 16033 16034 SW1019 158

328 329

CSS23 326 SW1020 16018 329

326 329

SFW21

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2) 27 September 2016 in London and on *

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THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

NICHOLAS RHODES (1946-2011)

Nicholas Rhodes was brought up in London. He started to collect coins from an early age and as a seven year old was first taken to AH Baldwin & Sons, receiving excellent guidance from the late Albert Baldwin. Nicholas was a scholar at Westminster School, where he co-authored his first numismatic publication on the Anglo-Saxon Coins in the school collection. In 1962, Nicholas started collecting oriental coins, particularly the coins of Nepal, which at this time presented the opportunity to build a meaningful collection and provided a fertile field for original research. On leaving school, he travelled overland to Nepal where he found a numismatist’s paradise of Nepalese and Tibetan coins. Over the years he made many return journeys to India, Nepal and Bhutan, where he had a large number of friends and contacts. After a Mathematics degree from Trinity College Cambridge, Nicholas qualified as an actuary and continued in this capacity for the rest of his professional life, working for an international (re)insurance company. During this time he was successfully able to balance working life with his passion for the collection and study of coins, banknotes, books, stamps and postal history. His specialist interests embraced the currency of the whole Himalayan region from Kashmir to Ladakh in the west, through Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, to Assam and the Hindu states of north-east India. He also collected Chinese coins and in recent years developed an interest in the coinage of Acheh and Murshidabad. Nicholas wrote and lectured extensively on his numismatic interests, publishing in excess of 200 articles and co-authoring eight books. His book, “The Coinage of Nepal”, written in collaboration with the late Karl Gabrisch and the late Carlo Valdettaro, is the standard reference work for the series. In recent years he collaborated with SK Bose on a series of books on the coinage of the north-east Indian states. He retired at the age of 56 in order to focus on his academic interests, dividing his time principally between London and Kolkata. John Rhodes WWW.SPINK.COM

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

THE COINAGE OF NORTH EAST INDIA Based on an article by Nicholas Rhodes The culture of the north-eastern states of India is very distinct from that of the rest of India. The coinages of these states reflect these differences, although from the fifteenth century they can be linked to the spread of Brahmanical religion from the Ganga valley. With few exceptions, the general pattern was that one or more Brahmins would arrive at the court of a powerful tribal ruler and would convince him of the superior culture he represented and of the power of the Hindu deities. The Brahmin would present him with a complete genealogy, outlining his purported destiny as an important Hindu ruler and detailing his descent from the solar or the lunar race. In order to smooth the conversion from tribal religions to the new order, the Brahmins sometimes explained how certain important tribal deities could be identified as Hindu deities. The familiar tribal iconography could thus be seamlessly retained and merely translated into the Hindu context by means of the Sanskrit language. As part of the ceremonies associated with the new Hinduised state, expensive rituals would be performed, and naturally the Brahmins would benefit from offerings and donations. While these donations were initially in fixed assets, such as land, the Brahmins later realised that it would be in their interests if they could also receive portable assets, such as precious metals, and for this reason they encouraged the striking of coin. On the occasion of important ceremonies, such as the installation of a new king, the Brahmins dictated that silver and gold coins ought to be struck in the name of the new ruler with appropriate religious invocations celebrating the date of the event. Such coinage could also be to the advantage of the state in oiling the wheels of trade and the provision of services from outside. It should be appreciated that, although most of the coins were made of silver, there were no silver mines anywhere in north-eastern India, so all the silver had to be imported from other countries. Interpreted in the light of this process, the coins can give us valuable historical information not available from other sources. Two earlier coinages should be mentioned before describing those of the Hinduised states. After the death of Sasanka, the powerful ruler of Bengal, circa AD 630, two rulers were generally accepted as being dominant in northern India, Harsha Vardhana in Bihar and western Bengal, and Bhaskaravarman in all territories further east. The first king of the North-East to have his name placed on coins was the great king of Kamarupa, Bhaskaravarman (c. 600-50), colloquially known as Sri Kumara, whose name appears on certain gold coins of Samatata. Situated in the south-eastern region of Bengal, the state of Samatata, consisting of Comilla district and southern Tripura, had grown rich on trade. We have little evidence to suggest that Sri Kumara physically controlled the territory of Samatata from his capital near modern Guwahati apart from the coins issued in the name of Bhaskaravarman and Sri Kumara, which served to formally acknowledge his suzerainty and to forestall the risk of invasion. This coinage is not represented in the present auction, although here have been numerous finds in the Comilla area and in south Tripura. The first coinage to circulate in the Assam valley were some cast round copper alloy pieces with a single Brahmi letter on one side and no other design. Such pieces were produced during the Salasthamba Dynasty of Kamarupa, between about AD 830 to 900. The motive behind these coins was probably trade. At that time, cowrie shells played a useful role in providing a common circulation medium in the local markets, but the cowrie shells were in great demand in the Nan Zhao kingdom, located in what is now the Yunnan province of south western China. To ensure that the loss of cowrie shells by trade to the East did not disrupt the local markets it was decided that a local base metal coinage could replace the cowrie shell as a convenient local currency. The coins only played a temporary role, and once the export of shells to the east ceased, there was no need for the copper coins, and the markets reverted to using cowrie shells. From the ninth century until the fifteenth century no coins were struck in the North-East. Most of this region consisted of tribal areas that relied on barter trade, and society was only monetised to the extent of the cowrie shells and a memory of monetary units in Kamarupa that provided a measure of value in certain copper plate legal documents.

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

Bibliography & Abbreviations KM = George S. Cuhaj, editor, Thomas Michael, market analyst: Standard Catalog of World Coins 1601-1700, 5th edition, Krause Publications, Iola WI, 2011 KM = George S. Cuhaj, editor, Thomas Michael, market analyst: Standard Catalog of World Coins 1701-1800, 5th edition, Krause Publications, Iola WI, 2010 KM = George S. Cuhaj, editor, Thomas Michael, market analyst: Standard Catalog of World Coins 1801-1900, 6th edition, Krause Publications, Iola WI, 2009 KM = George S. Cuhaj, editor, Thomas Michael, market analyst: 2012 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000, 39th edition, Krause Publications, Iola WI, 2011 G & G = Goron, Stan & Goenka, J.P., The Coins of the Indian Sultanates, Munshiram Manoharlal, New Delhi, 2001 NGV = Rhodes, Nicholas G., Gabrisch, Karl and Valdettaro, Carlo: The Coinage of Nepal from the earliest times until 1911, Royal Numismatic Society, Special Publication, no. 21, London, 1989 Bose = Bose, SK., The Commercial Coinage of Koch Kingdom, Mira Bose, Library of Numismatic Studies, Kolkata, 2013

RB = the publication relating to the appropriate area from the list below: Rhodes, N.G., Bose, S.K., The Coinage of Cooch Behar, Mira Bose, Library of Numismatic Studies, Dhubri, 1999 Rhodes, N.G., Bose, S.K., The Coinage of Tripura, Mira Bose, Library of Numismatic Studies, Kolkata, 2002 Rhodes, N.G., Bose, S.K., The Coinage of Assam, I, Pre-Ahom Period, Library of Numismatic Studies, Kolkata, 2003 Rhodes, N.G., Bose, S.K., The Coinage of Assam, volume II â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ahom Period, Mira Bose, Library of Numismatic Studies, Kolkata, 2004 Rhodes, N. G. and Bose, S. K., A History of the Dimasa Kacharis - As Seen through Coinage, Mira Basu Publishers, New Delhi, 2006 Rhodes, N. G. and Bose, S. K., The Coinage of Jaintiapur, Library of Numismatic Studies, Kolkata, 2010 Rhodes, N. G. and Bose, S. K., The Coinage of Manipur, Library of Numismatic Studies, Kolkata, 2012 JNSI = Journal of the Numismatic Society of India, Varanasi, India JONS = Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society, editor, S.Goron, London WWW.SPINK.COM

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

Order of Sale TUESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2016 Commencing at 2.00 p.m. Lots The Sultans of Bengal

1- 13

Chittagong and Arakan

14-15

Larins of Bijapur and Sri Lanka

16-17

Tripura

18 - 152

Cooch Behar

153 - 212

Kachar

213 - 225

Manipur

226 - 234

Jaintiapur

235 - 253

Ahom Kingdom of Assam

254 - 408

Garhwal

409 - 426

Kumaon

427 - 433

Ladakh

434 - 456

Sikkim

457 - 458

Sirmur

459 - 461

Nepalese Hills

462

Coin Cabinet

463

END OF SALE

Page 5

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

TUESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2016 Commencing at 2.00 p.m. All lots are subject to Terms and Conditions for Buyers printed at the back of this catalogue Estimates The estimated selling price of each lot is printed below the lot description and does not include the Buyer’s Premium. Bidders should bear in mind that estimates are prepared well in advance of the sale and are not definitive. They are subject to revision. Please note that bidders who acquire lots on the-saleroom.com will have a fee of 3% on the hammer price added to their invoice for using this facility. Spink is pleased to continue to offer our on-line bidding platform Spink Live for no charge through www.spink.com.

THE SULTANS OF BENGAL

Sultans of Bengal, Shams al-Din Muzaffar (AH 896-99; AD1490-93), commemorative Tankas (2), 10.53, 9.97g, AH 898, without mintname, fath al-mulk al’ādil al-bādhil al-mujāhid sa’d al-dīn nāsir amīr al-mū’minīn al-mukhāttib shams al-dunyā wa’l dīn abu’l nasir, rev. Kalima in the centre, around, in the margin, muzaffar shāh alsultān khallad allāh mulkahu was sultānahu kamtā mardan fī 898 (G&G. B.682), the first with clear date, margin rather weakly struck, about very fine, the second with reverse test cuts, good fine, both rare (2)

£100-150

This rare issue, which is known in two varieties, commemorates a successful military campaign in the Kamta area of present-day Assam. The obverse legend translates as: ‘The victory of the just and generous king, the warrior, fortunate in the faith, the helper of the Commander of the Faithful, who is called Shams al-Dunya etc.’ 2

Sultans of Bengal, ‘Ala al-Din Husain (AH 899-925; AD 1493-1519), commemorative Tanka, first ‘victory’ type, 10.60g, AH 899, Sharifabad, al-sultān almutawakkil ‘alā ‘llah al-fāth al-kāmrū wa’l-kamta bi-’ināyat allāh ‘alā al-dunyā wa’l dīn abū ‘l muzaffar husain shāh al rattān fath kamta, rev. Kalima, mint and date in field, four rashidun in the margin, (G&G. B.716-20 for type, this mint not in G&G for this type), shroff-mark on reverse, good very fine, very rare This first victory type was issued before the successful campaigns in Jajnagar and Orissa, which are celebrated on later issues. While all other dated coins of this overall type have the date 900, the reverse of this coin is dated 899, which suggests a reverse die of the previous year was used.

£100-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

3 3

Sultans of Bengal, ‘Ala al-Din Husain (AH 899-925; AD 1493-1519), Tankas, first ‘victory’ types (4) (G & G. B.716-720), some with shroff marks, fine to very fine, all scarce (4)

£100-150

Sultans of Bengal, ‘Ala al-Din Husain (AH 899-925; AD 1493-1519), Tankas (8), third ‘victory’ type, Fathabad, AH(89)9, basic titles only (2), Fathabad, AH899, longer titles with father’s name, Husainabad, fourth ‘victory’ type, mintless, other Tankas (4), with shroff marks and/or small test cuts, good fine to very fine (G & G. B.706, 725, 750 (plate coin), 770), good fine to very fine, some with test cuts (8)

£150-200

6 5

Sultans of Bengal, ‘Ala al-Din Husain (AH 899-925; AD 1493-1519), commemorative Tanka, fourth ‘victory’ type, 10.46g, Barbakabad, date uncertain, see note for legends (G&G. B.737, but somewhat cruder style), slight adhesion, good very fine, rare

£40-60

The fourth victory type is the most common of this commemorative series of issues. The legends are: al-sultān al- fāth al-kāmrū wa kamta wa jājnagar wa urissa ‘alā al-dunyā wa’l dīn abū ‘l muzaffar husain shāh al-sultān bin sayyid ashraf al-husainī khallada allāh mulkahu wa sultānahu spread over the two sides. It thus celebrates campaigns into four different territories. 6

Sultans of Bengal, ‘Ala al-Din Husain (AH 899-925; AD 1493-1519), commemorative Tankas (2), fourth ‘victory’ type, Fathabad, AH “89”, Husainabad, legends as previous lot (G&G. B.739, 741), very fine to good very fine, some shroff-marks on the first (2) WWW.SPINK.COM

£40-60

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

7 7

Sultans of Bengal, ‘Ala al-Din Husain (AH 899-925; AD 1493-1519), commemorative Tankas (2), fourth ‘victory’ type, Muhammadabad, AH 925, 921, legends as previous lot (G&G B. B.746), first slightly crimped and with a flan defect on the reverse, good very fine, second, extremely fine (2)

£70-90

Muhammadabad was the only mint operating during the Husaini dynasty that consistently had the actual date of striking on the coins. Other mints had fixed dates or a mixture of actual dates and garbled dates. On the first of these two coins where the date has been read as AH 925 (a date not recorded in G&G for this ruler), the last digit is not altogether certain but it does resemble most a 5, albeit “on its back”.

8 8

Sultans of Bengal, ‘Ala al-Din Husain (AH 899-925; AD 1493-1519), Tankas (4), fourth ‘victory’ type, Muhammadabad, AH915, 917, 919, 924 (G & G. B.746), all with clear mints and dates, some non-obtrusive shroff marks, very fine or a little better (4)

£80-100

Sultans of Bengal, ‘Ala al-Din Husain (AH 899-925; AD 1493-1519), Tankas (9), fourth ‘victory’ type, Husainabad (2), Dar al-Darb (2), Khazana (2), Fathabad, mintless or unclear (2) (G & G. B.738, 739, 741, 744, 745), good fine to very fine (9)

£100-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

10 10

Sultans of Bengal, Nasir al-Din Nusrat (AH 925-38; AD 1519-31), Tanka, 10.66g, Tirhut Mardan, undated, al-sultān bin al-sultān nāsir al-dunyā wa’l dīn abū’l muzaffar, rev. nusrat shāh sultān bin husain shāh sultān khallada mulkahu tirhat mardan (G&G. B.841), very fine, scarce

£40-60

The reading of the mint name as Tirhut Mardan, which would commemorate a military campaign into Tirhut is by no means certain. In JONS 207 (2011), Russel Haque and Nicholas Rhodes suggested the reading could instead be read as Sirhat mardan, i.e. the subduing of Sirhat (Sylhet). 11

Sultans of Bengal, Nasir al-Din Nusrat (AH 925-38; AD 1519-31), Tankas (6), Tirhut Mardan (3), Khazana, mintless or unclear (2), Ghiyath al-Din Mahmud (1532-38), Tankas (4), badr shahi types, Fathabad, ‘Da’ AH933, uncertain mint (2), Ghiyath al-Din Bahadur (1555-60), Rupee, mintless type, Ghiyath al-Din Jalal (1560-63), Rupee, no mint visible (G & G. B.835, 841, 844, 901, 914, 967, 972), fine to very fine (12)

£150-200

12 12

Sultans of Bengal, ‘Ala al-Din Firuz II (AH 938-39; AD 1531-32), Tanka, 10.60g, Tirhut Mardan, undated, al-sultān ibn al-sultān ‘ala al-dunyā wa’l dīn abū’l muzaffar, rev. fīrūz shah sultān ibn nusratshāh sultān khallada mulkahu [mintname] (G&G. B.883), good very fine, rare

£40-60

13 13

Sultans of Bengal, Ghiyath al-Din Mahmud (AH 939-45; AD 1532-38), ‘badr shah’ Tankas (2), Fathabad, AH 933, Nusratabad AH (9)33 (G&G. B.901, 910), very fine to good very fine, the latter coin very scarce (2)

WWW.SPINK.COM

£50-70

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

CHITTAGONG & ARAKAN

14 14

Chittagong, Trade Coinage (mid 16th century), in the name of Bengal Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Bahadur, Tankas (2), both AH959, variant types of letter ‘ha’ in Muhammad (G & G. B.1004, 1010), both very fine, the second rare (2)

£100-150

Arakan, Thado (BE1007-14; 1645-52), Tankas (2), BE1007, legends in Arakanese, (Mitchiner, Land of Water 359-60), the first good very fine, the second mounted for jewelley, about very fine, both scarce (2)

£100-150

LARINS OF BIJAPUR & SRI LANKA

16 16

India, Sultans of Bijapur, ‘Ali Adil Shah II (1656-72), Larins, Dabul (5), AH1071, AH(10)71, no visible date (3) (MWI. 2316-20), fine to very fine (5)

£150-200

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) (c.17th century), ‘Fish Hook’ Larins (6), anonymous, pseudoPersian legends (MWI. 2326-31), fine to very fine (6)

£100-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

TRIPURA During the 15th Century, certain Brahmins felt threatened by the increased Islamisation of Bengal, and began to move eastwards. Judging from the evidence of coins, the first tribal chief to be converted into a Hinduised state was Ratna-pha of Tripura, who assumed the Hindu name of Ratna Manikya. His coins are all dated Śaka 1386 (=AD 1464), which must have been a pivotal date in the transformation process. They are all of silver, of the same weight standard (c.10.5g) as the contemporary coins of the Bengal Sultanate, and most show a lion on one side. Although this same lion had appeared on some coins of Nasir-ud-din Mahmud Shah of Bengal (lot 3, Rhodes auction part I), in the case of Tripura it was probably intended as an appropriate royal insignia. In Hindu iconography the lion, represents the vehicle of Durga, so the religious invocations to Lord Shiva and his consort on the coins were also appropriate. On one coin (lot 19), a grotesque human-faced winged dragon appears, which has been interpreted as a unique representation of the Hindu deity, Narasimha, but would once have probably been instantly recognised by the tribals as a powerful local deity, whose memory is now lost. Another coin (lot 6, Rhodes auction part I), has a Sanskrit legend invoking the Chaturdasa Devata, the fourteen local tribal deities, represented by fourteen vertical lines with a garland draped over them. This shows that the local deities had been absorbed into the Hindu pantheon. The clear impression is of a coinage that closely copied the contemporary sultanate coinage, but which clearly stated that it was issued by a Hindu ruler. The high quality of the coins, produced in a state that had no previous history of metal working, indicates that they were struck by metal workers experienced in the production of coins in the sultanate mints who had been attracted to work for the new Hindu king. The coins were also generally designed with no human representations of deities, so that they would be accepted for circulation in Muslim-dominated Bengal. The coinage of Tripura continued on the same principles for over four centuries, well into the colonial era. They provide important chronological information, as most of them bear the date of the installation of each new ruler, information not available from any other source. The local historical chronicle, the Rajmala, provides a mythological genealogy that gave Hindu legitimacy to the king, but although it gives much information of events during the historical period, provides no dates. Some military victories recorded in the Rajmala have dates that coincide with those of coins struck to celebrate the same events. However, the chronicle has also been subject to a degree of censorship. Accordingly, the names of certain rulers who struck coins have been removed from the official record. Only the information from the coins themselves can fill in such gaps. Sometimes they can even give a clue as to why such censorship occurred, as in the case of a coin of Tripura type, which also bears the name of the king of Arakan. This king was clearly a puppet ruler installed by the king of Arakan during one of his more successful invasions of Tripura. Although most coins of Tripura are infrequently found in Bengal, those from the 16th Century are found in some quantity. This indicates that they circulated more widely, supporting a theory that they were used to pay Portuguese mercenaries that were employed by the Raja of Tripura to protect him against incursions from the Muslims in the west. Another unique feature of the coins of Tripura, is that they usually also give the name of the queen. Such consistent mention of females is unprecedented anywhere in South Asia, and clearly shows that the queen must have played an important part in the religious rituals of the Kingdom. Interestingly, this role of the queen is not mentioned anywhere in the Rajamala, which adopts a more orthodox position. This auction offers the final chance to buy some of the finest representations of Tripura coinage ever to come up for sale, including many examples of the early coinage, such as the experimental Tankas of Ratna Manikya: one with a representation of Narasimha (lot 19), one naming his queen, Lakshmi of which only two were known to Rhodes (lot 18), and one with an invocation to the goddess Durga (lot 23). There is a good selection of the Tankas of Vijaya depicting Ardhanarishvara (lots 70-75) and Vishnu on his vahaha Garuda (lots 76 & 77), and the ever-popular issues of Yaso Manikya with a representation of Krishna and the gopis (lots 110-115). Also coins of Iśvara, Rama, Mahendra, Indra and Rama Ganga Manikya, which are rarely seen (lots 109, 122, 127, 136, 139), and a good selection of the late coinage including some extremely rare gold coins and machine-struck presentation Tankas.

18 18

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.49g, Sk.1389, citing Queen Lakshmi, Sri Lakshmī/mahā devi/Śrī Śrī Ratna/Mānikya, within octagon, rev. Pārvati Pa/rameśvara Cha/rana parah/1389 within a circle (RB. 6; KM. 3), very fine, extremely rare Coins naming Ratna Manikya’s queen, Lakshmi, are extremely rare and Rhodes lists only two of this type. Rhodes suggests that the date may be written in error (for 1386). WWW.SPINK.COM

£1,000-1,200

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

19 (x2)

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.43g, mint of Ratnapura, Sk.1386, lion facing left within circle, legend around, Śrī Nārāyana Charana Para Ratnapure 1386, rev. human-faced winged animal facing left, probably representing Narasimha, within a circular toothed border (RB. 7, KM. -), extremely fine, and of the utmost rarity, never before offered at auction As Ratna Manikya was the first ruler of Tripura to issue coins much of his currency appear to be experimental in nature. Much of his standard currency reflected the time he spent at Gaur, an area ruled by the Bengal Sultans, and mirrors the coinage they were producing at the time of his visit. However this Tanka appears to be of entirely local inspiration. The human faced winged dragon being a version of the Hindu god Narasimha, the fearsome lion incarnation of the god Vishnu. The obverse depicts a lion that was to become the standard emblem on the majority of coins of Tripura from that date onwards. As this is the first and only time such a coin has been offered to the market it is likely to be hotly contested among collectors of this series

£5,000-10,000

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

20 20

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.50g, Sk. 1386, Ratnapura, lion facing left within circle, legend around: Śrī Nārāyana Charana Para Ratnapure 1386, rev. Śrī Nārāyana/Charana Para/Śrī Śrī Ratna Mā/nikya Deva in double square with ornaments outside (RB. 8; KM. 5), good very fine, extremely rare

£300-400

Ratna Manikya’s initial coinage had inscriptions on both sides. The lion design appears on his later coinage. Inspiration for the design must have come from rare issues of the Bengal sultans, Jalal al-Din Muhammad and Nasir al-Din Mahmud that feature a similar lion. In the Hindu religion, the lion is the vahana, or vehicle, of the goddess Durga. It is noteworthy than some subsequent Tripura issues actually include an invocation to the goddess. Ratnapura was the name of the Tripura capital, and is now known as Udaipur. 21

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.18g, Sk.1386, Ratnapura, lion facing left within circle, legend around, Śrī Nārāyana Charana Para Ratnapure 1386, rev. Srī Srī Ra/tna Māni/kya Deva in double square with ornaments outside (RB. 9; KM. 6), edge a little ragged, very fine, rare

22 22

£300-400

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.67g, Sk.1386, Ratnapura, lion facing left within circle, legend around, Śrī Nārāyana Charana Para Ratnapure 1386, rev. Srī Srī Ra/tna Māni/kya Devah within a circle, toothed design in margin with bead in each tooth (RB. 13), extremely fine, rare

£300-400

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.67g, Sk.1386, Ratnapura, Lion facing left within circle, legend around, Śrī Durga Pada Para Ratnapure Śāke 1386, rev. Śrī Śrī Ra/tna Māni/kya Deva within double circle with crescents in margin (RB. 23; KM. 13), light scratch above reverse legend, good very fine, attractive and very rare

£400-500

This coin has a clear invocation to the goddess, Durga

24 24

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.52g, Sk.1386, Ratnapura, lion facing left within circle, border of rounded arches, rev. Śrī Śrī Ra/tna Māni/kya Devah within double octagon (RB. 29), extremely fine, attractive and rare

£400-500

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.53g, undated, solid lion facing right within circle, toothed border, Śrī Durga in fields, rev. Śrī Śrī Ra/tna Māni/kya Deva within double square with toothed ornamental border (RB. 32; KM. 22), very fine, rare

£250-300

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

26 26

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.56g, undated, solid lion facing right within circle, toothed border, Śrī Durga in fields, rev. Śrī Śrī Ra/tna Māni/kya Deva within a double square in a square of beads surrounded by a toothed ornamental border (RB. 35; cf. KM. 22), dark toning, extremely fine, rare

£300-400

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.49g, undated, solid lion facing left within circle, toothed border, Śrī Durga in fields, rev. Śrī Śrī Ra/tna Māni/kya Deva within a double square containing beads in a toothed ornamental border (RB. 37; cf. KM. 20), dark staining in places, extremely fine, rare

£200-300

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.40g, undated, solid lion facing left within circle, toothed border, Śrī Durga in fields, rev. Śrī Śrī Ra/tna Māni/kya Devah with arabesques on four sides, within circle and toothed border (RB. 38; KM. 23), two shroff marks and a test cut in obverse field, otherwise extremely fine, rare

£150-200

It is unusual to find shroff marks on these early coins

29 29

£250-300

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.54g, undated, solid lion to right, fish symbol below, within circle, toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Dha/nya Māni/kya Devah in double square with toothed border (RB. 44; KM. 37), good very fine, attractive and rare

£250-300

31 31

Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.26g, undated, solid lion facing left within circle, toothed border, Sri Durga in fields, rev. Śrī Nārāyana/Charana Para/Śrī Śrī Ratna Mā/nikya devah with wave patterns on four sides, within circle and toothed border (RB. 39; KM. 24), toned good very fine, rare

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.57g, undated, solid lion to right, fish symbol below, within circle, toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Dha/nya Māni/kya Devah in double square with ladder-style hatching between squares and toothed border (RB. 45; cf. KM. 37), about extremely fine, rare

£250-300

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.39g, undated, solid lion to right, fish symbol below, within circle, toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Dha/nya Māni/kya Devah in double square with beads between squares and toothed border (RB. 46; cf. KM. 37), some staining, very fine, rare

£200-250

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.35g, undated, solid lion to left with small annulet above head, within circle, toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Dha/nya Māni/kya Devah in double square with beads between squares and toothed border (RB. 47; KM. 38), good very fine, rare

£200-300

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

34 34

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 9.98g, Sk.1412, lion facing left, with small annulet above its head, within circle, toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Dha/nya Māni/kya Devah within circle, arabesque in right field, legend around, reading inwards: Śrī Narasimha Charana Parāyana Subhamastu Śāke 1412 (RB. 49; cf. KM. 39), minor reverse flan crack, extremely fine and extremely rare

£500-600

The legends include an invocation to Narasimha, an incarnation of Vishnu. 35

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.44g, undated, lion facing left, annulet above, within circle, toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Dha/nya Māni/kya Devah with arabesques on four sides, within a toothed border (RB. 51; KM. 40), shroff mark of a 4spoked wheel below lion, very fine, very rare

36 36

£200-300

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.22g, undated, lion facing left, within circle, toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Dha/nya Māni/kya Devah with arabesques on four sides, within double circle containing annulets, toothed border (RB. 54; cf. KM. 40), some edge damage, very fine, very rare

£250-350

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.40g, Sk.1412, citing Queen Kamala with title ‘Lord of Tripura’, lion facing left, crescent above, date below, within a circular toothed border, rev. Tripurendra/Śrī Śrī Dhanya/Mānikya Śrī Ka/malā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 58), obverse with ghosting, possibly caused by movement of die when striking, good very fine, some toning, very rare

£200-300

The legend on this coin includes the epithet ‘Tripurendra’ - ‘Lord of Tripura’

38 38

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.58g, undated, citing Queen Kamala with title ‘Lord of Tripura’, lion facing right, bead above mane and below tail, within a circular toothed border, rev. Tripurendra/Śrī Śrī Dhanya/Mānikya Śrī Ka/malā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 61; KM. 45), very fine with some toning, very rare

£200-300

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.40g, Sk.1412, citing Queen Kamala with title ‘Lord of Tripura’, lion facing left, annulet above, date below, within a circular border with fin-like design, rev. Tripurendra/Śrī Śrī Dhanya/Mānikya Śrī Ka/malā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 63), with some obverse staining, light scratches and flan cracks, very fine, very rare

£150-200

Rhodes and Bose consider the presence, absence, and position of beads on these and later Tripura issues to be significant in terms of mint management, though precisely in what way is not known. WWW.SPINK.COM

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

40 40

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.55g, Sk.1428, citing Queen Kamala with title ‘Lord of Victory’, lion facing left, date below, within a circle with toothed border, rev. Vijayīndra/Śrī Śrī Dhanya/Mānikya Śrī Ka/malā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 64; KM. 47), toned very fine, very rare

£200-300

Dhanya Manikya ceased using the title ‘Tripurendra’ and assumed the title ‘Vijayīndra’ ‘Lord of Victory’ at this time, presumably following a military campaign. However the Rajamala does not note any victories for this period. 41

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.51, Sk.1428, citing Queen Kamala with title ‘Lord of Victory’, lion facing right, three beads by lion’s mouth, date below, within a circle with solid toothed border, rev. Vijayindra/Śrī Śrī Dhanya/Mānikya Śrī Ka/malā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 66; cf. KM. 47), very fine, very rare

£200-300

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.38, Sk.1435, victory issue, citing Queen Kamala, lion left with bead in mouth, date to right, within a circle with fin-like border, rev. Chattigram Vi/jayi Śrī Śrī Dha/nya Mānikya Śrī/Kamalā Devyau within square and ornamental border (RB. 68), obverse with small area of discolouration above lion’s tail, good very fine, very rare

£180-240

This and the following three lots celebrate the capture of Chittagong. 43

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.20, Sk.1435, victory issue, citing Queen Kamala, lion left, bead above, date below and to right, within a circle with finlike border, rev. Chattigram Vi/jayi Śrī Śrī Dha/nya Mānikya Śrī/Kamalā Devyau within square and ornamental border (RB. 69), dark toning, about very fine, very rare

£180-240

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.48g, Sk.1435, victory issue, citing Queen Kamala, as previous lot but lion faces right (RB. 72; KM. 48), about extremely fine, rare

£150-200

45 45

Tripura, Dhanya Manikya (1490-1526), Tanka, 10.13g, Sk.1435, victory issue, citing Queen Kamala, as previous lot but lion has one bead behind and two beads to right, Chattigram Vi/jayi Śri Śri Dha/nya Mānikya Śri/Kamala Devyau within square and ornamental border (RB 74; KM. 48 (plate coin)), dark toning, very fine, rare

£150-200

Tripura, Deva Manikya (1526-32), Tanka, 10.24g, Tanka, Sk.1448, citing Queen Padmavati, lion facing right, crescent and bead above, date below, within circle with finlike border, rev. Śrī Śrī Deva/Mānikya De/va Śrī Padmā/vatī Devyau within square with decorative border (RB. 76; KM. 54), good fine, rare

£100-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

47 47

Tripura, Deva Manikya (1526-32), Tanka, 10.66g, Sk.1448, citing Queen Padmavati, lion facing right, crescent and bead above, date below within circle and fin-like border, rev. Śrī Śrī Deva/Mānikya De/va Śrī Padmā/vatī Devyau within square with decorative border (RB. 76; KM. 54), chisel mark on obverse, very fine, very rare

£120-150

Tripura, Deva Manikya (1526-32), Tanka, 9.84g, Sk.1449, citing Queen Padmavati, lion facing left, crescent and bead above, bead by lion’s mouth, annulet behind, date below, all within a circle and fin-like border, rev. Dhurāsāra/Snāyi Tripu/ra Śrī Śrī De/va Mānikya/Padmāvatyau within square with decorative border (RB. 80), small dent on obverse edge at 3 o’clock, good very fine, very rare

£200-300

Dhurāsāra Snāyi means bathing in the River Dhurasara, though no such river is otherwise known 49

Tripura, Deva Manikya (1526-32), Tankas (2), 10.55, Sk.1449, citing Queen Padmavati, lion facing left, crescent and bead above, annulet behind, date below, within a circle with fin-like border, rev. Dhurāsāra/Snāyi Tripu/ra Śrī Śrī De/va Mānikya/Padmāvatyau, 10.61g, Sk 1450, celebrating a victory at Sunargaon, citing Queen Padmavati, similar to previous coin but bead in front of lion’s neck, rev. Swuvarnagra/ma Vijayi/Śrī Śrī Deva/Mānikya Śrī/Padmāvatyau within square with decorative border (RB. 79, 82; KM 55), the first with obverse test cuts, good fine, the second with dark deposits, fine/very fine, both rare (2)

50 50

£200-300

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.73g, Sk.1454, citing Queen Vijaya, lion to right, standard above, two beads by the mouth, date below, all within circle with toothed border; rev. Śrī Śrī Vija/ya Mānikya/Deva Śrī Vi/jayā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 88; KM. 61 (plate coin)), dark tone, about very fine

£100-150

From the reign of Vijaya Manikya, the obverse design now includes a royal standard of various types issuing from the back of the lion. 51

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tankas (2), 10.43, 10.39g, Sk.1454, both with lion to right, the first with bead by lion’s mouth, the second with two beads, standard above, date below, within circle with toothed border, rev. the first with three-line legend, Śrī Śrī Vi/jaya Māni/kya Deva, the second with four-line legend, Śrī Śrī Vija/ya Mānikya/Deva Śrī Vi/jaya Devyau (RB. 87, 89; KM. 61), the first with three obverse test cuts, otherwise fine, the second with some toning and flan damage, both rare (2)

£120-180

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.69g, Sk.1456, citing Queen Vijaya, lion to right, standard above, two beads by the mouth and two by the tail, date below, all within circle with double toothed border; rev. Kumudīsha/Darshi Śrī Śrī/Vijaya Mā/nikya/Śrī Vi/jayā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 91 var; KM. 62 (plate coin)), about extremely fine, extremely rare

£250-300

The epithet ‘kumudīsha darshi’ means ‘one who looks at the moon’; this may be an astrological or astronomical reference, or may simply refer to the king gazing upon the beauty of his queen. This type not listed in RB 53

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.77g, Sk.1458, citing Queen Lakshmi, lion to right, standard above, bead by the mouth, date below, all within circle with double toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Vija/ya Mānikya De/va Śrī Lakshmī/Mahā Devyau within square (RB. 92; cf. KM. 63), very fine WWW.SPINK.COM

£100-150

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

54 54

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.47g, Sk.1458, citing Queen Lakshmi, as previous lot (RB. 93; cf. KM. 63), reverse with some staining, very fine

£80-100

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.68g, Sk.1458, citing Queen Laksmi, lion to right, standard above, crescent and bead above head, date below, lion appears to be holding a symbol, within circular toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Vija/ya Mānikya/Deva Śrī Laksmī/Mahā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 94; KM. 63), very fine, rare

£100-150

£80-100

57 57

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 9.76g, Sk.1458, citing Queen Laksmi, lion to right, standard above, crescent and bead above head, two beads by mouth, date below, within circular toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Vija/ya Mānikya/Deva Śrī Laksmī/Mahā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 97; KM. 63), about very fine/fine

£50-60

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tankas (2), 10.56g, 10.31g, Sk.1458, citing Queen Laksmi, lion to right, standard above, crescent and bead above head, two beads by mouth, date below, within circular toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Vija/ya Mānikya/Deva Śrī Laksmī/Mahā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 97; KM. 63), the first with obverse die fault, the second with two test cuts and shroff mark, very fine (2)

£100-150

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.28g, Sk.1458, citing Queen Lakshmi, as previous lot but triangle of beads by lion’s head and dot behind lion, śaka below lion, standard type ‘e’, 4 in date retrograde (RB. 98; cf. KM. 63), good very fine/fine

£80-100

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tankas (2), 10.37g. 10.54g, Sk.1458, citing Queen Lakshmi, the first with lion to right, the second with lion left, obverse within circle of dots, śaka to left of lion, two beads by lion’s head, the second with 4 in date retrograde (RB. 100, 104), the first with single test cut, good very fine, the second with two test cuts and various shroff marks (2)

£100-150

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.53g, Sk.1458, citing Queen Lakshmi, lion to right, standard above, crescent and bead above head, two beads by mouth, date below, within circular toothed border, rev. Śrī Śrī Vija/ya Mānikya/Deva Śrī Laksmī/Mahā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 102; KM. 63), attractive, very fine

£100-120

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

62 62

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.86g, Sk.1476, citing Queen Sarasvati and commemorating a ritual bath at Dhvaja Ghat, lion to right, standard and crescent above, date below, all within circle and plain border, rev. in five lines: Dhvaja Ghata Sna/yi Śri Śri Vija/ya Manikya De/va Śri Sarasva/ti Maha Devyau within square and ornamental border (RB. 105; KM. 65 var), very fine, very rare

£160-200

The Dhvaja Ghat is on the Bhramaputra, due west of Tripura. This issue commemorates a successful raid into Muslim territory. 63

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.59g, Sk.1476, citing Queen Sarasvati and commemorating a ritual bath at Dhvaja Ghat, lion to right, standard above, date to right, within a wide floral border, rev. Dhvaja Ghata Snā/yi Śrī Śrī Vija/ya Mānikya De/va Śrī Sarasva/ti Mahā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 106; KM. 65), toned good very fine

£120-180

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.55g, Sk.1476, citing Queen Sarasvati and commemorating a ritual bath at Dhvaja Ghat, lion to right, standard above, date below, within a wide floral border, rev. Dhvaja Ghata Snā/yi Śrī Śrī Vija/ya Mānikya De/va Śrī Sarasva/ti Mahā Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 107; KM. 65 var.), very fine, very rare

£120-180

65 65

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.68g, Sk.1479, citing Queen Lakshmi, lion to right, standard, crescent and bead above, bead by lion’s mouth, date below, all within circle and ornamental border, rev. in four lines: Pratisindhu Si/m Śri Śri Vijaya/Manikya Deva La/kshmi Rani Devya in square and ornamental border (RB. 109; KM. 66), slightly weak in one area, very fine, scarce

£60-80

This issue includes the expression ‘Pratisindhu sim,’ which means ‘right up to the sea.’ This may refer to a military occupation of territory as far as the sea. 66

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.84g, Sk.1479, citing Queen Lakshmi, lion to right, standard and crescent with bead above, bead above lion’s head, date below, all within circle with ornamental border; rev. Pratisindhu Si/m Śrī Śrī Vijaya Mā/nikya Deva La/kshmī Rānī Devya in square and ornamental border (RB. 109-11 var; KM. 66), this type with unusual legend arrangement and bead above lion’s head not listed in RB, toned very fine, scarce

£100-150

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.52g, Sk.1479, citing Queen Lakshmi, lion to right, standard and crescent with bead above, date to right, all within a circular floral border, rev. Pratisindhu Si/m Śrī Śrī Vija/ya Mānikya Deva/Lakshmī Rānī Devya in square with ornamental border (RB. 110; KM. 66 var), about very fine, scarce

£80-100

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

68 68

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.25g, Sk.1479, citing Queen Lakshmi, lion to right, standard and crescent with bead above, date to right, all within a circular floral border, rev. Pratisindhu Sim/Śrī Śrī Vijaya Mā/nikya Deva Śrī La/kshmī Rānī Devya in square with ornamental border (RB. 111; KM. 66 var.), toned very fine, scarce

£80-100

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.50g, Sk.1479, citing Queen Lakshmi, as previous type but beads behind standard, above lion’s head and in front of its mouth, date below lion (RB. 115; KM 66 var), about very fine, scarce

£80-100

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.66g, Sk.1482, citing Queen Lakshmi and commemorating a ritual bath in the River Lakhi, figure of Ardhanarishvara, date below, śaka to left, within circle and toothed border, rev. Lakshya Snāyi/Śrī Śrī Tripura Ma/hesh Vijaya Māni/kya Deva Śrī Lakshmī/Rānī Devyah within 12-arched scalloped border with beads between arches (RB. 116; KM. 67), a couple of stained or weak areas, otherwise very fine, scarce

£200-250

The River Lakhi is a branch of the Brahmaputra that passes near to Sonargaon and Dacca. The ritual bath was presumably undertaken during another foray into Muslim territory. The depiction of Ardhanarishvara is unusually syncretic in as much as it is shown as half the tenhanded Durga seated on her lion, and half the four-handed Shiva seated on his humped bull. In the previous Rhodes auction a slightly better specimen of this coin sold for £550.

71 71

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.52g, Sk.1482, citing Queen Lakshmi and commemorating a ritual bath in the River Lakhi, as previous lot but obverse within border of large beads, date below figure (RB. 117; KM. 67), about very fine, scarce

£200-250

In the previous Rhodes auction a slightly better specimen of this coin sold for £550. 72

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.68g, Sk.1482, citing Queen Lakshmi and commemorating a ritual bath in the River Lakhi, as previous lot but with large pellet by the upper hand of Shiva, rev. a crescent in top arc above the legend, star below (RB. 119; KM. 67), with obverse test cut, about very fine, scarce

73 73

£150-200

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.43g, Sk.1482, citing Queen Lakshmi and commemorating a ritual bath in the River Lakhi, as previous lot but bead to right of lion’s mouth (RB. 122; KM. 67), very fine, a scarce variety

£200-250

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 9.91g, Sk.1482, citing Queen Lakshmi and commemorating a ritual bath in the River Lakhi, as previous lot (RB.122 var.; KM. 67), weakly struck, good fine, scarce

£100-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

75 75

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.56g, Sk.1482, citing Queen Lakshmi and commemorating a ritual bath in the River Lakhi, as previous lot but no bead and śaka to right of date, rev. a star in legend below ‘sh’ of mahesh (RB.124; KM. 67), attractively toned, very fine, scarce

76 (x1.5)

77 (x1.5)

Tripura, Vijaya Manikya (1532-64), Tanka, 10.42g, Sk.1485, citing Queen Vaka and commemorating a ritual bath in the River Padma, Vishnu seated, supported by Garuda, with two attendants, all supported by four animals, date below, all within circular toothed border; rev. legend in Mandala-shaped area: Padmā/vati Snāyi Śrī/Śrī Visvesva/ra Vijaya/Deva Śrī Vaka/Devya, Shiva-lingam in small square in the centre (RB. 125; KM. 68), good very fine, extremely rare

£250-300

£1,800-2,500

The River Padma was well inside Muslim territory so this ritual bath will have been undertaken during a successful military incursion. This issue also demonstrates that a new queen was in favour. In the previous Rhodes auction a similar specimen of this coin sold for £2300 (lot 61). 77

Tripura, Ananta Manikya (1564-67), Tanka, 10.67g, Sk.1486, Vishnu seated, supported by Garuda, date to left and right, within circular border of petal-like beads, rev. Śrī Śrī Yu/ta Ananta/Māni/kya Deva, crescent above, lotus bud below, within 10-lobed border (RB. 128; KM. 73), attractively toned, good very fine and extremely rare

£500-600

In the previous Rhodes auction a similar coin sold for £800 (lot 63).

78 78

Tripura, Amanta Manikya (1564-67), Tanka, 10.30g, Sk.1487, citing Queen Ratnavati, lion facing left, standard above, date below within circle and border of cusped arcs, rev. Śrī Śrī Yutāna/nta Mānikya De/va Śrī Ratnava/tī Maha Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 129; KM. 74), attractively toned, good very fine WWW.SPINK.COM

£200-300

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

79 79

Tripura, Udaya Manikya (1567-73), Tanka, 10.58g, Sk.1489, citing Queen Hira, lion facing left, standard above, pellet before mouth, date below, within a circular border of sloping arches, rev. Śrī Śrī Yutoda/ya Mānikya/Deva Śrī Hira/Maha Devyau within square with ornamental border (RB. 132; KM. 79), obverse weakly struck, about very fine/ good very fine, scarce

£80-100

The addition and position of pellets and beads on the coins of this ruler were probably secret control marks at the mint. The same dies occur with and without these additions so the process must have been intentional. 80

Tripura, Udaya Manikya (1567-73), Tanka, 10.66g, Sk.1489, citing Queen Hira, as previous lot, but bead in front of lion and the 89 of the date behind the back leg (RB. 133 var; KM. 79), toned very fine, scarce

£80-100

Tripura, Udaya Manikya (1567-73), Tanka, 10.28g, Sk.1489, citing Queen Hira, as previous lot, but arches in border on the obverse point right rather than left, bead behind lion and date below, rev. legend arranged slightly differently: Śrī Śrī Yutoda/ya Mānikya/Deva Śrī Hi/rā Maha Devyau (RB. 138; KM. 79), about very fine, scarce

£70-90

82 82

Tripura, Udaya Manikya (1567-73), Tanka, 10.59g, Sk.1489, citing Queen Hira, as previous lot, rev. all of ‘Hira’ on the third line of legend, rather crudely engraved (RB. 139; KM. 79), attractively toned about extremely fine, scarce

£80-100

Tripura, Udaya Manikya (1567-73), Tanka, 10.47g, Sk.1489, citing Queen Hira, as previous lot but bead added in front of lion (RB. 141; KM. 79), obverse weakly struck, good fine/about very fine, scarce

£60-80

84 84

Tripura, Udaya Manikya (1567-73), Tanka, 10.16g, Sk.1489, citing Queen Hira, as previous lot but crescent and bead above lion and arches in border point left, rev. Śrī Śrī Yuto/daya Mānikya/Deva Śrī Hi/rā Maha Devyau, arabesques outside the square border are different (RB. 142; KM. 79), very fine, scarce

£80-100

Tripura, Jaya Manikya (1573-77), Tanka, 10.39g, Sk.1495, lion facing left, standard above with bead to right, date below, within circle and beaded border, rev. Śrī Śrī Yuta/Jāya Māni/kya Devah within square with ornamented border (RB. 148; KM. 84), very fine

£100-150

Tripura, Jaya Manikya (1573-77), Tanka, 10.69g, Sk.1495, citing Queen Subhadra, lion facing left, bead by mouth and to right, standard above, date below and to right, within circle and border of beads, rev. Śrī Śrī Yuta/Jāya Mānikya/Deva Śrī Subha/drā Mahā Devyau within square with ornamented border (RB. 150; KM. 85), good very fine with some toning

£100-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

87 87

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tanka, 10.73g, Sk.1499, citing Queen Amaravati, lion facing left, standard above, date to left and below, bead behind, within a circle with outer border of double arches, an extra bead in arch by lion’s front paw, rev. Śrī Śrī Yutāma/ra Mānikya De/va Śrī Amarāva/tī Mahā Devyau within square with ornamented borders (RB. 153; KM. 90), good very fine

£60-80

The coins of this ruler are relatively common for Tripura. Some of the dies used exist in a number of states with one or more dots added, while there is considerable variation in the form of the standard that issues from the lion’s back. It should be noted that the KM catalogues do not list these varieties separately, nor similar ones for other rulers. 88

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tanka, 10.30g, Sk.1499, citing Queen Amaravati, lion facing left, standard above, date to left and below, bead behind and below hind leg, within a circle with outer border of double arches, rev. Śrī Śrī Yutāma/ra Mānikya De/va Śrī Amarāva/tī Mahā Devyau, within square with ornamented borders (RB. 155; KM. 90), reverse has a little toning in places, otherwise in unusually good condition for type, extremely fine

89 89

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tanka, 10.67g, Sk.1499, citing Queen Amaravati, as previous lot but date below and to right of lion, beads added above and below head, but none in margin (RB. 157; KM. 90), good very fine with slight toning

£80-100

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tanka, 10.50g, Sk.1499, citing Queen Amaravati, as previous lot but no beads around lion’s head, and ‘ke’ of śake by ‘1’ of date (RB. 158; KM. 90), very fine

£60-80

91 91

£100-150

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tanka, 10.63g, Sk.1499, citing Queen Amaravati, as previous lot, with bead in annulet before front foot of lion, ‘śa’ of śake reengraved next to ‘ke’ (RB. 160; KM. 90), good very fine

£60-80

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tanka, 10.71g, Sk.1502, with title ‘Conquerer of the World,’ citing Queen Amaravati, lion facing left, plain standard above, date below, with śake between lion’s two front legs, within a circle with outer border of double arches, rev. Digbijayi Śrī Śrī/Yutāmara Māni/kya Deva Śrī Ama/rāvatī Devyau within square with ornamented borders (RB. 162; KM. 91), good very fine

£80-100

This type issued in Sk 1502 (AD 1580) in includes the epithet ‘digvijayi’ - ‘conqueror of the world.’ This probably refers to a successful military campaign.

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

94 93

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tanka, 10.66g, Sk.1502, with title ‘Conquerer of the World,’ citing Queen Amaravati, as previous lot but standard has an object tied to it (RB. 164; KM. 91), good very fine

£80-100

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tanka, 10.76g, Sk.1502, with title ‘Conquerer of the World,’ citing Queen Amaravati, similar to previous lot (RB. 164; KM. 91), good very fine

£60-80

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tankas (2), 10.45, 10.50g, Sk.1502, with title ‘Conquerer of the World,’ citing Queen Amaravati, similar to previous lot, but the first with śake above front leg of lion, the second has a circular arc at base of standard and śake between lion’s two front legs (RB. 165; KM. 91), the first with adhesions, about very fine, the second very fine (2)

£120-150

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tanka, 10.51g, Sk.1503, citing Queen Amaravati, commemorating the conquest of Sylhet, lion facing left, standard (type ‘i’) above, date below, all within circle and outer border of double arches with pellets, rev. Śrīhatte Vijayi/Śrī Śrī Yutāmara Mā/nikya Deva Śrī A/marāvatī Devyau in square with ornamented borders (RB. 170; KM. 92), very fine

£100-150

This, the last of Amara Manikya’s issues, has the explicit epithet Srihatta Vijayi - ‘Conqueror of Sylhet’ 97

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tanka, 10.70g, Sk.1503, citing Queen Amaravati, commemorating the conquest of Sylhet, as previous lot but different date arrangement (RB. 170 var; KM. 92), toned good very fine

£80-100

98 99 98

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tanka, 10.64g, Sk.1503, citing Queen Amaravati, commemorating the conquest of Sylhet, as previous lot but standard similar to type ‘k’ (RB. 171; KM. 92), very fine

£60-80

Tripura, Amara Manikya (1577-86), Tankas (2), 10.62, 10.65g, Sk.1503, citing Queen Amaravati, commemorating the conquest of Sylhet, as previous lot but with extra beads around the standard on the first, and the second with a bead below lion’s mouth (RB. 171, 172; KM. 92), very fine (2)

£120-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

101

100 100

102

Tripura, Rajadhara Manikya (1586-99), Tankas (2), 10.44, 10.58g, Sk.1508, citing Queen Satyavati, lion facing left, the first with standard type ‘o’ above, bead to left, the second with standard type ‘r’, bead below lion’s tail, date below, within circle with outer border of beaded annulets, rev. Śrī Śrī Yuta Rāja/dhara Mānikya De/va Śrī Satyāva/tī Mahā Devyau within square with ornamented borders (RB. 177, 180; KM. 97), both very fine, the first with reverse showing some die movement, the second toned (2)

£120-150

It is said that Rajadhara Manikya devoted himself to religious ceremonies rather than the affairs of state. His end came when he fell into the river Gumti and was drowned while drinking water in which an image of Vishnu had been washed. All his coins are dated Sk 1508 but there are several variations in the form of the standard above the lion. 101

102

103

Tripura, Rajadhara Manikya (1586-99), Tanka, 10.45g, Sk.1508, citing Queen Satyavati, similar to previous lot but different standard, type ‘t’ (RB. 180; KM. 97), dark toning, very fine

£60-80

Tripura, Rajadhara Manikya (1586-99), Tankas (2), 10.58, 10.64g, Sk.1508, citing Queen Satyavati, similar to previous lot but the first with standard, type ‘s’ and bead above lion’s head, the second with bead in lion’s mouth and further beads by standard (RB. 181, 182/obverse as 185; KM. 97), the first with slight damage to edge, very fine (2)

£120-150

Tripura, Rajadhara Manikya (1586-99), Tankas (2), 10.57, 10.32g, Sk.1508, citing Queen Satyavati, similar to previous lot, but the first with no extra beads and standard type ‘u’ with small bead above, the second with standard type ‘s’, ‘deva’ written in full on third line (RB. 183, 184 var; KM. 97), the second with clipped edge, both good very fine (2)

£120-150

104

106 104 105

106

Tripura, Rajadhara Manikya (1586-99), Tanka, 10.48g, Sk.1508, citing Queen Satyavati, similar to previous lot (RB. 184; KM. 97), very fine

£60-80

Tripura, Rajadhara Manikya (1586-99), Tankas (2), 10.54, 10.51g, Sk.1508, citing Queen Satyavati, similar to previous lot, the second with bead to left and right of standard (RB.184, 185; KM. 97), the first good very fine, the second about very fine (2)

£120-150

Tripura, Rajadhara Manikya (1586-99), Tankas (2), 10.67, 10.65g, Sk.1508, citing Queen Satyavati, similar to previous lot but bead above lion’s head (RB. 186; KM. 97), toned good very fine and very fine (2)

£120-150

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

107 107

Tripura (late 16th century), counter-stamped Tankas (2), head of lion of Tripura on Chittagong, trade Tankas of governor Vamar Shah, AH988 (N. Rhodes, ‘Some Coins Countermarked in Tripura,’ JONS #203, Spring 2010, pp.14-16; host coins G & G. B.1017; Michiner, Land of Water 306), host coins about very fine, countermarks containing dark deposit but a little better, host coins rare, with this countermark they must be considered extremely rare (2)

£300-400

These coins are illustrated in the Rhodes JONS article (#3 & 4). The lion-head countermark is similar to the head of the lion on coins of Amara Manikya and Rajadhara Manikya of Tripura. The ‘trade coins’ that host them name a Sultan Vamar who may have been an Arakanese governor of Chittagong or a local potentate whose identity is uncertain. Their date, read as AH988, suggests they were issued after 1580. As almost identical countermarks are also found on coins of the Dimasa-Kachari kingdom issued in the late 16th century (see lots 218 & 220), Rhodes suggests that both types were countermarked in the 1590s. After considering whether the marks were merely shroff marks made by local bankers, or applied in Tripura by the authorities to validate their circulation there, Rhodes decided that it is more reasonable to think they were applied by the Tripuran authorities to validate the coins for export from Tripura. He came to this conclusion as it is likely that the striking of coinage in Tripura was used as a method of raising revenue by the rulers. Any silver bullion coins brought in to the country would have to be re-struck at the mint, and could only then be exported as legitimate Tripura issues. This lion-head countermark could be one way of making them legitimate. No coins with this countermark are found in Tripura itself which makes it unlikely they were destined to circulate locally, and he was not aware of other Chittagong trade coins of this period bearing different shroff marks, which would have been the case if countermarking was common amongst the traders.

108 108

Tripura, Yaso Manikya (first reign 1599-1600), Tanka, 10.69g, Sk.1521, lion facing left, standard above, date below, within circle with outer border of beaded annulets, rev. Śrī Śrī Yuta/Yaso Māni/kya Devah in square with ornamented border (RB. 189; KM. 107), some dark toning, otherwise extremely fine, very rare The death of Rajadhara Manikya led to a period of chaos in Tripura of which little is known apart from what can be gleaned from the coins. Coins are known for two kings dated Sk 1521, Virabhadra Manikya (known from a coin in the Dacca Museum) and Yaso Manikya. The latter’s first reign must have been very brief for in the following year coins were struck in the name of Ishvara Manikya. Yaso Manikya started his second reign in that same year (Sk 1522). Needless to say, the coins of the period of chaos are all very or extremely rare.

£200-300

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

109 109

110

Tripura, Ishvara Manikya (1600), Tanka, 9.40g, Sk.1522, naming two queens named Ishvara, lion facing left, standard above, date below, within circle with outer border of beaded annulets, rev. Śrī Śrī Yutisvara/Mānikya Deva Śrī/Isvarā Śrī Isva/rā Mahā Devyah in square with ornamented borders (RB. 190; KM. 114), darkly toned, very fine and very rare

£750-1,000

This issue is remarkable in citing two queens at the same time. The Krishna coins of Yaso Manikya struck during his second reign, occasionally name three queens, but this is very unusual. Coins of this ruler of any type are seldom offered. 110

Tripura, Yaso Manikya (second reign 1600-18), Tanka, 10.20g, Sk.1522, citing Queen Lakshmi, Krishna standing on lion facing left, playing flute, one gopi on right side, date below, within circle with outer border of beaded annulets, rev. Śrī Śrī Yuta Ya/so Mānikya/Deva Śrī La/kshmī Mahā Devyau (RB. 192; KM. 108), edge filed in places, very fine and very rare

£240-300

The type with one gopi is much rarer than the subsequent type featuring two gopis.

111 111

112

Tripura, Yaso Manikya (second reign 1600-18), Tanka, 10.22g, citing Queen Lakshmi, as previous lot but reverse legend slightly differently arranged, Śrī Śrī Yuta/Yaso Mānikya/Deva Śrī Lakshmī/Mahā Devyau (RB. 193; KM. 108), darkly toned, obverse a little double struck, good very fine, very rare

£260-320

Tripura, Yaso Manikya (second reign 1600-18), Tanka, 10.58g, Sk.1522, citing Queens Gauri and Lakshmi, Krishna standing on lion facing left, playing flute, one gopi on either side, date below, within circle with outer border of beaded annulets, rev. Śrī Śrī Yutā Ya/so Mānikya De/va Śrī Gaurā La/kshmī Mahā Devyau in square with ornamented borders (RB. 196; KM. 109), attractive about extremely fine, rare

£260-320

113 113

114

Tripura, Yaso Manikya (second reign 1600-18), Tanka, 10.62g, Sk.1522, citing Queens Gauri, Lakshmi and Jaya, obverse as previous lot but reverse legend: Śrī Śrī Yuta Yaso/Mānikya Deva Śrī/Lakshmī Gaurī Jā/ya Mahā Devyah in square with ornamented borders (RB. 198; KM. 109), good very fine/very fine, rare

£200-300

This is the only instance in the whole Tripura series where three queens are cited on the same coin. 114

Tripura, Yaso Manikya (second reign 1600-18), Tanka, 10.63g, Sk.1522, citing Queens Gauri, Lakshmi and Jaya, as previous lot but legend Śrī Śrī Yuta Yaso/Mānikya Deva/Śrī Lakshmī Gaurī Jā/ya Mahā Devyah (RB. 199; KM. 109), good very fine, rare

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£200-300

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

115 115

116

Tripura, Yaso Manikya (second reign 1600-1618), 10.52g, Tanka, Sk.1522, citing Queens Gauri, Lakshmi and Jaya, similar to previous lot (RB. 200; KM. 109), struck from old dies, very fine, rare

£150-200

Tripura, Kalyana Manikya (1626-60), Tanka, 10.06g, Sk.1548, citing Queen Kalavati, lion facing left, standard above, date below, within circle with outer border of beaded annulets, rev. Śrī Śrī Yuta Kalya/na Mā [lingam] nikya/Deva Śrī Kalāva/tī Mahā Devyau in square with ornamented borders (RB. 204; KM. 124), about very fine, rare

£300-400

Tripura was invaded by the Mughals in around AD 1618. Yaso Manikya and his family were taken prisoner to Dacca and then to Dehli, never to return to Tripura. It is not clear how long the Mughal occupation actually lasted but after some time the Tripura nobles elected Kalyana Manikya king although he was of not royal descent. Although his rule lasted for more than 30 years, his coins are rare and must have been struck on very few occasions. One prominent feature of his tankas is the Shiva-lingam in the centre of the reverse. Another innovation is the striking of smaller denominations, as in lot 118.

117 117

Tripura, Kalyana Manikya (1626-60), Tanka, 10.21g, Sk.1548, citing Queen Kalavati, similar to previous lot but different ornamentation in borders of reverse (RB. 205; KM. 124), very fine, rare

118 118

119

£300-400

119

Tripura, Kalyana Manikya (1626-60), Quarter-Tanka, 2.56g, Sk 1548, lion facing left, bead in crescent above, date below, all within circle and border of pellets, rev. Śrī Śrī Yu/ta Kalya/na Devah within square and ornamental border (RB. 208; KM. 122), good very fine, rare

£100-150

Tripura, Govinda Manikya (1660-61 & 1667-76), Tanka, 10.27g, Sk.1582, citing Queen Gunavati, lion facing left, standard above, date below, within circle with outer border of beaded annulets, rev. Śi [lingam] vah/ Śrī Śrī Yutā Go/vinda Mānikya/Deva Śrī Gunava/tī Mahā Devyau, within square with ornamented border, (RB. 210; KM. 135), about very fine, rare

£200-300

All the known coins of Govinda Manikya bear the date of his first accession.

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

121

120 120 (x1.5) 120

121 (x1.5)

Tripura, Govinda Manikya (1660-61 & 1667-76), Eighth-Tankas (2), 1.27, 1.24g, undated, the first with lion facing right, crescent and bead above, the second with lion facing left with beads in field, within circle and border of pellets, rev. Śrī Go/vindah within square with ornamented border (RB. 213, 214; KM. 131, 132), the first toned with some encrustation, very fine, the second about very fine, both scarce (2)

£120-150

In the 1970s, crude forgeries of this and similar fractions appeared on the market. They are still seen from time to time and, should be avoided. 121

Tripura, Govinda Manikya (1660-61 & 1667-76), Eighth-Tanka, 1.28g, undated, as previous lot (RB. 214; KM. 132), toned very fine

122 122

123

Tripura, Rama Manikya (1676-85), Tanka, 9.29g, Sk.1598, citing Queen Ratnavati, lion facing left, standard above, date below, within a circle with outer border of beaded annulets, rev. Śi [lingam] vah/ Śrī Śrī Yuta Rāma/Mānikya Deva/Śrīmatī Ratnāva/tī Mahā Devyau in square with ornamented border (RB. 218; KM. 155), light reverse scoring, about very fine, rare

£200-300

Tripura, Ratna Manikya II (1685-93 & 1695-1712), Tanka, 10.60g, Sk.1607, lion facing left, standard above, date below and to the right, in a circle with outer border of beaded annulets, rev. Śi [lingam] vah/ Kālika Pada/Padma Madhup/Śrī Śrī Yuta Ratna/Mānikya Devyau in square with ornamented border (RB. 221; KM. 166 (plate coin)), about very fine, rare

£200-300

125

124 124

125

£60-80

Tripura, Ratna Manikya II (1685-93 & 1695-1712), Tanka, 10.18g, Sk.1607, citing Queen Satyavati, lion facing left, standard above, date below and to the right, within a circle with outer border of beaded annulets, rev. Śi [lingam] vah/ Kālika Pade Śrī/Śrī Yuta Ratna Māni/kya Deva Śrī Satya/vatī Mahā Devyau within square with ornamented borders (RB. 222; KM. 167), good fine/about very fine, some toning, rare

£150-200

Tripura, Ratna Manikya II (1685-93 & 1695-1712), Quarter-Tanka, 2.51g, Sk.1607, lion facing left, crescent with bead above, date below, within circle and border of pellets, rev. Śrī Śrī Yu/ta [lingam] Ra/tna Devah in square with ornamented border (RB. 224; KM. 164), very fine, with dark tone, rare

£100-120

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126 126

126 (x1.5)

Tripura, Ratna Manikya II (1685-93 & 1695-1712), 1⁄16-Tanka, 0.51g, undated, lion facing left, crescent and bead above, within circle and border of pellets, rev. Sri Ra/tnasya within square with ornamented border (RB. 225; KM. 161), about very fine, dark toning, rare

£60-80

127 127

Tripura, Mahendra Manikya (1712-14), Tanka, 10.25g, Sk.1634, lion facing left, standard above, date below, with outer border of beaded annulets, rev. Śrī Krishna [lingam] Pada/Padma Madhup/Śrī Śrī Yuta Mahe/ndra Mānikya Devah within square with ornamente border (RB. 230; KM. 188), toned extremely fine/very fine, extremely rare

£1,000-1,500

Mahendra Manikya was the stepbrother of the previous ruler, Ratna Manikya, whom he removed in a coup, witnessed by envoys of the Raja of Assam. From the appearance of his coins it is apparent he worshipped both Krishna and Siva.

128 128

129

130

Tripura, Dharma Manikya (1714-? & 1728-29), Tanka, 10.60g, Sk.1636, lion facing left, standard above, date below, within circle and border of beaded annulets, rev. Śiva Durga Pa/dābja Madhup/Śrī Śrī Yuta Dharmā/Mānikya Devah in square with ornamented border; lingam at top (RB. 235; KM. 198), some reverse flan defects, very fine, rare

£200-300

Dharma Manikya’s reign seems to have been interrupted by the activities of Jagat Manikya, a descendent of the earlier ruler, Chattra Manikya. Jagat enlisted the help of Muslim forces the result of which was the permanent Muslim hold on the plains of Tripura from then onwards. It is not clear whether Jagat ever ruled as king - no coins are known in his name but around 1728, Dharma was restored to the throne for a brief period, most likely as a Mughal puppet. 129

130

Tripura, Dharma Manikya (1714-? & 1728-29), Tanka, 10.31g, Sk.1636, citing Queen Dharmasila, lion facing left, standard above, date below, within circle and border of beaded annulets, rev. Śiva Durga Pade/Śrī Śrī Yuta Dharma Mā/nikya Deva Śrī Dharmā/silā Mahā Devyau in square with ornamented border, lingam partially visible at top (RB. 236; KM. 199), some staining, good fine, rare

£100-150

Tripura, Dharma Manikya (1714-? & 1728-29), Half-Tanka, 5.24g, Sk.1636, obverse as previous lot, rev. in three lines: Śri Śri Yuta/Dharma Mani/kya Devasya in square with ornaments outside (RB. 238; KM. 197), very fine with dark toning, extremely rare

£300-400

At the time of publication of RB, only one example of this half tanka was known.

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

131

134 133

132 131

132

133

134

Tripura, Dharma Manikya (1714-? & 1728-29), Quarter-Tanka, 2.56g, Sk.1636, lion facing left, crescent and bead above and date below, within a circle and border of beads, rev. Śrī Śrī Yu/ta [lingam] Dha/rma Devah within square with ornamented border (RB. 239; KM. 196), toned, very fine, rare

£100-150

Tripura, Dharma Manikya (1714-? & 1728-29), Quarter-Tanka, 2.48g, Sk.1636, lion facing left, crescent and bead above and date below, within a circle and border of pellets, rev. Śrī Śrī Yu/ta [lingam] Dha/rma Devah within square with ornamented border (RB. 239; KM. 196), about very fine, rare

£100-150

Tripura, Dharma Manikya (1714-? & 1728-29), Quarter-Tanka, 1.56g, Sk.1636, as previous lot, 1⁄16-Tanka, 0.65g, undated, lion facing left with crescent and bead above, within circle and border of pellets, rev. Śrī Dha/rmasya (RB. 239, 240; KM. 194, 196), about very fine and very fine, rare (2)

£150-200

Tripura, Jaya Manikya II (1739-44), Tanka, 10.53g, Sk.1661, citing Queen Jasovati, lion facing left, standard above, date below and to the right, within circle and border of beaded annulets, rev. Śi [lingam] vah/Hara Gaurī Pade/Śrī Śrī Yuta Jaya Mā/nikya Deva Śrī Jāso/vatī Mahā Devyau in square with ornamented border (RB. 242; KM. 209), very fine, very rare

£450-600

Jaya Manikya II was reported to have been a young soldier who came to the throne when Mukunda Manikya, the brother of Dharma Manikya, was captured by Muslim forces. Very few of his coins are known. In the previous Rhodes auction a similar coin sold for £600 (lot 133).

135

136

135

136

135 (x1.5)

136 (x1.5)

Tripura, Jaya Manikya II (1739-44), 1⁄16-Tanka, 0.72g, undated,, lion facing left, within circle and border of pellets, rev. Śrī Ja/yasyah within square with ornamented border (RB. 244; KM. 205 (plate coin)), ex mount, toned good very fine, very rare

£250-300

Tripura, Indra Manikya (1744-?), 1⁄16-Tanka, 0.66g, undated, lion facing left, crescent and bead above, within circle and border of pellets, rev. in two lines: Śri I/ndrasya etc. within square (RB. 247; KM. 215), ex mount, toned very fine, extremely rare

£200-250

Indra Manikya was the son of Mukunda Manikya. He gained the throne from Jaya with the help of the Nawab of Murshidabad.

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

137 137

Tripura, Krishna Manikya (1760-61 & 1767-83), ¿ Mohur, 10.62g, dated Sk.1582 in error for Sk.1682, citing Queen Jahnavi, lion facing left, standard above, date below and to the right, within circle and border of beaded annulets, rev. Śiva Durga Pa/de Śrī Śrī Yuta/Krishna Mānikya/Deva Śrī Jāhna/vī Mahā Devyau, in square with ornamented border, (RB. 250; KM. 234 (plate coin)), small marks on the edge suggest that this coin may once have been in a mount, weakly struck, very fine, extremely rare

£1,500-2,500

After ruling for a couple of years, Indra Manikya was overthrown and replaced, in around 1746, by Vijaya Manikya II, of whom no coins are known. Tripura soon came under the domination of a Muslim rebel, Shamsher Ghazi, who, having made himself ruler of the plains area of Tripura, proceeded to plunder Udaipur, the capital, and then declare himself ruler of the whole state. As the people refused to acknowledge him as king, he installed Lakshmana Manikya as a puppet ruler, but afterwards apparently ruled in his own name until captured by the Nawab of Murshidabad and executed. This allowed the return of the Tripura royal family in the form of Krishna Manikya who had taken refuge in Kachar. However, the Nawab came under the control of the British, so when a revenue dispute was referred to him around 1761, the British decided use this excuse to annex Tripura. After this, control remained nominally in the hands of the Nawab who placed Balaram Manikya on the throne. He must have been ineffectual as the situation in the hills, where the capital was, remained confused, until Krishna managed to regain the throne in 1767, with the help of the British Governor of Bengal.

138 138

Tripura, Krishna Manikya (1760-61 & 1767-83), Tanka, 10.63g, dated Sk.1582 in error for Sk.1682, lion facing left, standard above, date below and to the right, within circle and border of beaded annulets, rev. Śiva Durga Pa/de Śrī Śrī Yu/ta Krishna Mā/nikya Devah below lingam, in square with ornamented border, (RB. 253; KM. 227), very fine with some discolouration, very rare

£300-400

139 139

Tripura, Rama Ganga Manikya (first reign 1806-08), Tanka, 10.34g, Sk.1728, citing Queen Tara, lion facing left, trident above, crosses to left, right and below, date below, within circle with border of large-beaded annulets, rev. Śiva Durga Pade/Śrī Śrī Yuta Rāma/Ganga Mānikya/Deva Śrīmati Tā/rā Mahā Devyau within square with looped arabesques in border, edge, diagonally milled (RB. 262; KM. 260 (plate coin)), very fine, some toning, very rare Rama Ganga’s first reign was beset with succession disputes and, after a couple of years, the British recognised Durga Manikya, as the rightful ruler. 33

£600-800

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

140

140 (x1.5)

140

Tripura, Durga Manikya (1809-13), Tanka, 10.64g, Sk.1731, citing Queen Sumitra, lion facing left, trident on back, cross left and right, date below, within double circle containing groups of four beads arranged lozenge-wise between the circles, rev. Kālī Pade/Śrī Śrī Yuta Durga/Mānikya Deva Śrī/mati Sumitrā/Mahā Devyau within circle of beads (RB. 264; KM. 275), bottom half of reverse legend double struck, toned about extremely fine, extremely rare This issue was probably struck for presentation to British officers at the ruler’s coronation ceremony. The legend is unusual for including an invocation to Kali. In the previous Rhodes auction a similar coin sold for £1500.

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£1,000-1,500

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

141

141 (x2)

141

Tripura, Rama Ganga Manikya (second reign 1821-26), gold Mohur, 10.38g, Sk.1743, citing Queen Chandra Tara, lion facing left, trident on back, date below, within border of two circles with petals between, rev. Śiva Durga Pa/de Śrī Śrī Yuta Rāma/Ganga Mānikya Deva/Śrī Śrīmati Chandra Tā/rā Mahā Devyau, lozenge-shaped pellets arranged as crosses at top and bottom, all with circle (RB. 265; KM. 295 (plate coin)), about extremely fine but obverse weakly struck, of the utmost rarity This and subsequent issues were only struck as presentation pieces and not for circulation. RB includes an interesting witness account of the striking of these coins at the formal installation ceremony of the ruler.

£10,000-12,000

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

142

142 (x1.5) 142

Tripura, Kasi Chandra Manikya (1826-30), Tanka, 10.44g, Sk.1748, citing Queen Chandra Rekha, lion facing left, trident on back, date to left and below within circular border of petals with three vertical lines in each, rev. Śiva Durga Pa/de Śrī Śrī Yuta Kāsi/Chandra Mānikya Deva/Śrī Śrīmati Chandra Re/khā Mahā Devyau, two crosses of lozenge-shaped pellets below, all within beaded circle (RB. 269; KM. 305 (plate coin)), about extremely fine, of the utmost rarity Very few coins are known of this ruler and there are none in the British Museum, where one would expect to find an example if any had been presented to British officers.

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£1,000-1,200

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

143

143 (x2)

143

Tripura, Krishna Kishora Manikya (1830-50), gold Mohur, 10.66g, Sk.1752, citing Queen Ratna Mala, lion facing left, trident on back, date on three sides around lion, all within circular border of petals with three vertical lines in each, rev. Rādha Krishna Pa/de Śrī Śrī Yutā Krishna/Kishora Mānikya De/va Śrī Śrīmati Ratna Mā/lā Mahā Devyau, arabesque above and below, all within a beaded circle (RB. 270; KM. 324 (plate coin)), about extremely fine, of the highest rarity Krishna Kishora Manikya struck coins in the names of six queens. They are all rare to extremely rare and form a particularly collectable series.

£10,000-15,000

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

144 144

Tripura, Krishna Kishora Manikya (1830-50), Tanka, 10.52g, Sk.1752, citing Queen Bidhukala, obverse as previous lot, rev. in five lines: Rādha Krishna Pa/de Śrī Śrī Yutā Krishna/Kishora Mānikya/Deva Śrī Śrīmati Bi/dhukalā Mahā/Devyah, small arabesque above, all within a beaded circle (RB. 274; KM. 315 (plate coin)), very fine, very rare

£700-900

145 145

Tripura, Ishana Chandra Manikya (1849-69), Tanka, 10.47g, Sk.1771, citing Queen Muktavali, lion facing left, trident on back, date on three sides around lion, all within circular border of petals with five vertical lines in each, rev. Rādhā Krishna Pa/de Śrī Śrī Yutā I/shāna Chandra Mānikya/Deva Śrī Śrīmati/Muktāvali Ma/hā Devyau, arabesque at top, all within circle of beads (RB. 280; KM. 336 (plate coin)), good very fine, extremely rare

£700-900

146

146 (x1.5) 146

Tripura, Ishana Chandra Manikya (1849-69), Tanka, 10.36g, Sk.1771, citing Queen Chandresvari, lion facing left, trident on back, date on three sides around lion, all within circular border of petals with five vertical lines in each, rev. Rādhā Krishna/Pade Śrī Śrī Yutā I/shāna Chandra Mānikya/Deva Śrī Śrīmati/Chandresvarī Mahā/Devyau, arabesque at top, all within circle of beads (RB. 282; KM. 335 (plate coin)), about extremely fine, exceptional specimen, extremely rare

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£1,000-1,200

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

147

147 (x2) 147

Tripura, Vira Chandra Manikya (1862-96), gold Mohur, 10.01g, Sk.1791, citing Queen Rajesvari, lion facing left, trident on back, date on three sides around lion, all within circular border of petals with five vertical lines in each, rev. Rādhā Krishna Pade/Śrī Śrī Yutā Vīra Chandra/Mānikya Deva Śrī Śrī/mati Rājeśvarī Mahā/Devyau,, arabesque at top, all within circle of beads (RB. 285; KM. 360 (plate coin)), struck from rusty dies, extremely fine and extremely rare The initial issues of Vira Chandra Manikya, which are known with the names of two queens, were hand-struck. After the appointment of a British resident in Agartala, which had become the capital during the reign of Krishna Manikya, machine-struck coins, dated in the Bengali era, and apparently struck in the UK, were issued. It is clear, however, that these coins were not intended for circulation, as only British Indian coinage is reported to have been in use within the state.

£10,000-15,000

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

148 148

Tripura, Vira Chandra Manikya (1862-1896), Tanka, 10.43g, Sk.1791, citing Queen Bhanumati, lion facing left, trident on back, date on three sides around lion, all within circular border of petals with five vertical lines in each, rev. Rādhā Krishna Pade/Śrī Śrī Yutā Vīra Chandra/Mānikya Deva Śrī Śrī/mati Bhanumatī Mahā/Devyau, arabesque at top, all within circle of dots (RB. 286; KM. 354 (plated coin)), double struck in places, good very fine with some toning, very rare

£700-800

149

149 (x1.5) 149

Tripura, Vira Chandra Manikya (1862-1896), machine-struck Tanka, 10.02g, TE.1279, citing Queen Manomohini, coat of arms of Tripura, date above, within ornate border, rev. Rādhā Krishna Pade/Śrī Śrī Yutā Vīra Chandra/Mānikya Deva Varmma/Śrī Śrīmati Manomohinī/Mahā Devi within beaded border (RB. 292; KM. 358), extremely fine and extremely rare

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£1,000-1,500

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

150

150 (x1.5)

150

Tripura, Radha Kishora Deb Barman Manikya (1897-1909), machine-struck lightweight Tanka, 8.77g, TE.1306, citing Queen Tulasavati, coat of arms of Tripura, date above, within ornate border; rev. Rādhā Krishna Pade/Śrī Śrī Yutā Rādhā Kishora/Deb Barmma Mānikya/Śrī Śrīmati Tulasīvatī/Mahā Devyau within beaded border (RB. 298; KM. 376), extremely fine and extremely rare

£1,000-1,500

Most of the silver coins of this reign were struck on the rupee standard, although some lightweight coins such as this are also known. Extremely rare half and double rupees also exist.

152

151

Tripura, Vira Vikrama Kishora Deb Barman (1923-47) machine-struck Rupee, 11.44g, TE.1337, without name of any queen, bust of Mahāraja with legend around: Pancha Śrī Mahārāja Mānikya Vīra Vikrama Kishora Deb Barman Bāhādur; rev. lion rampant to left, with trident on back, Tripura Rajya above, date below, all within decorative border, edge, milled (RB. 302; KM. 406), good very fine with a little discolouration, scarce

£150-200

The Rupees of this reign are usually somewhat debased. It is possible that some of them may have circulated unofficially. 152

Tripura, Vira Vikrama Kishora Deb Barman (1923-47) machine-struck Rupee, 11.59g, TE.1341, citing Queen Kanchan Prabha, obv. Rādhā Krishna Pade/Panch Śrī Yukta Mahārāja/Vīra Vikrama Kishora/Mānikya/Śrī Śrīmati Mahārānī/Kanchan Prabhā Mahā Devī, rev. lion rampant left with trident on back, date below, surrounded by petal border, (RB. 305; KM. 409), extremely fine, scarce 41

£200-300

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

COOCH BEHAR It was in the early 16th Century that some Koch tribals established control over the area of the old Hindu kingdom of Kamata, which had been destroyed by Husain Shah of Bengal in the 1490’s. As the area had previously been predominantly Hindu for centuries, the new rulers were an obvious target for conversion to Brahminism. Coins were first struck by king Nara Narayana in Śaka 1477 (AD 1555), and there is some uncertainty as to whether this represented the accession year of the king, or the date of his first installation by the Brahmins, as a Hinduised king. The coins of Cooch Behar are of similar weight and fabric to those of Tripura, since both copied the coins of the Bengal Sultans, rather than because of any connection between the two states. They are of a standard type, with Sanskrit legends on both sides. On one side are religious invocations, while the name of the king appears on the other, with no reference to a queen. One interesting aspect of the legends is the letter forms, some of which show Bengali influence, while others show Maithili influence. This reflects the fact that some of the Brahmins at court were of Maithili origin, having travelled eastwards from Bihar. The coins of Cooch Behar were struck in large numbers, and a strong motivation behind their issue was trade. During the 16th Century, much of the trade between India and Tibet passed through Cooch Behar, across the Himalayas through Bhutan. The Tibetans exchanged items such as wool, gold and silks from China, for goods from India, including silver. Rather than permitting the free transit of silver through their kingdom, a simple way of profiting from this transit trade was to prohibit the export of silver, other than in the form of coins of Cooch Behar itself. Other Indian silver coins and bullion had to be brought to the mint in Cooch Behar, and the king profited from the charges he levied for minting. The extent of this trade at various times can be judged from the output of the mint in Cooch Behar. Since coins are particularly common in the second half of the 16th Century, the Tibet trade was particularly buoyant at that time. Another source of silver for the coinage during the 16th Century was the military campaign conducted by Nara Narayan and his brother Silarai, during the years AD 1562-4. They led an army around the north-east, defeating all the newly formed Hinduised kingdoms in the region, including Tripura, demanding tribute in silver and gold. These conquests were short-lived, as the Cooch army was finally defeated by a Muslim army, but they did leave some mark on the coinage of the region, if only in emphasising the use of coin as settlement of tribute. In AD 1661, the Mughal general under Aurangzeb, Mir Jumla, invaded Assam, and conquered Cooch Behar on the way. Interestingly, he immediately struck coins of Cooch Behar fabric, with legend in proto-Bengali script, but in the Urdu language. These coins bear the name of Aurangzeb, and the mint name ‘Alamgirnagar, as Cooch Behar was renamed after the conquest. This was the only time that a Mughal emperor ever agreed to have his name written on a coin in any script other than Arabic (lot 199). Mir Jumla’s expedition was ultimately unsuccessful, so as soon as the army withdrew, the mint reverted to striking coins in the name of the Cooch king. After the mid 17th Century, most trade between India and Tibet passed through Nepal, so the role of the Cooch Behar coins changed. They became the main circulating medium throughout the region, including Bhutan, western Assam, and the Rangpur district of Bengal. The ruler of Cooch Behar was able to benefit financially from the commercial success of his coins, which only ceased when the British closed his mint at the end of the 18th Century. Since the Cooch Behar coins passed through Bhutan along the trade route to Tibet, the Bhutanese began to use them for their own purposes. Although monetisation in Bhutan was very limited, they were used as religious and other donations in the Buddhist kingdom. After the closure of the mint in Cooch Behar, some of the mint workers moved to Bhutan, and close copies of the Cooch Behar coins were struck in Bhutan throughout the 19th Century with various degrees of debasement. The British tried to prevent the export of such coins from Bhutan during the first half of the 19th Century, not always successfully, and it was only after the 1840’s, that Britain successfully removed the Cooch Behar coins, by this time called Narainy Rupees, from circulation in Indian territory. While most Cooch Behar coins are quite common, there are some rare issues. In this auction, for example, one can single out the fractional Tankas of Nara Narayan (lots 162 & 163), a rare Tankas of Lakshmi Narayan (lot 171), the Half-Tankas of Vira Narayan (lot 188) and that struck for Aurangzeb during the Mughal invasion (lot 199). The late machine struck coins in silver and gold are also very popular (see lots 208-210). Also worthy of note is the very rare coin attributed to the Kings of Khyriem (lot 212).

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

153 153

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Tankas (3), 10.44, 9.61, 10.55g, Sk.1477, legend: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrī/man Nara Nā/rāyana Bhupāla/sya Śāke/1477, both sides within circle and beaded border (RB. 1; Bose A-1.1, 2, 3; KM. 34), the second with two test cuts, very fine or better (3)

£70-90

In his die study of the coins in the Rhodes cabinet, Bose puts these three coins at the start of the die run for issues of Nara Narayan. Therefore it could be said that they represent the earliest known coins of this state.

154 154

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Tankas (3), 10.4, 10.44, 10.43g, Sk 1477, legend: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrī/man Nara Nā/rāyana Bhupāla/sya Śāke/1477, both sides within circle and beaded border (RB. 1; Bose A-1.24, 27, 33; KM 34), very fine to extremely fine (3)

£70-90

KM does not distinguish between RB. 1, RB. 2 and RB. 3. The illustration is of RB. 3 All types from RB. 1 to RB. 8 have separated letters, i.e. they are not joined together by a horizontal line at the top of the letters. 155

156

157

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Tankas (3), 10.49, 10.47, 10.43g, Sk.1477, as previous lot (RB. 1; Bose A-1.10, 12, 21; KM. 34), very fine or better (3)

£70-90

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Tankas (3), 10.50, 10.54, 10.44g, Sk.1477, as previous lot (RB. 1; Bose A-1.43, 45, 46; KM. 34), very fine or better (3)

£70-90

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Tanka, 8.55g, Sk.1477, legend: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, with śi, ra, na in 2nd line in Nagari script, rev. Śrī Śrī/man Nara Nā/rāyana Bhupāla/sya Śāke/1477, both sides within circle and beaded border (RB. 3; Bose A-2.2; KM. 34), some dark adhesions, very fine

£40-60

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

158 158

159

160

161

159

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Tanka, 10.26g, Sk.1477, legend: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, with śi, ra in 2nd line and ra sya in 4th line in Nagari script, rev. Śrī Śrī/man Nara Nā/rāyana Bhupāla/sya Śāke/1477, both sides within circle and beaded border (RB. 5; Bose A-2.8; KM. 34), attractively toned large flan, extremely fine

£50-70

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), broad-flan Tanka, 33mm, 10.27g, Sk.1477, legend: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, with śi, ra in 2nd line and ra sya in 4th line in Nagari script, rev. Śrī Śrī/man Nara Nā/rāyana Bhupāla/sya Śāke/1477, both sides within circle and beaded border (RB. 3 var; Bose A-2.15; KM. 34), well struck on a large flan, extremely fine

£50-70

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Tanka, 10.37, 9.37g, Sk.1477, as previous lot but first with with śi, ra in 2nd line and ra sya in 4th line in Nagari, second with śi, ra na in 2nd line in Nagari only (RB.3 var; Bose A-2.13, 16; KM. 34), the first on a large flan, slightly stained, good very fine, the second very fine (2)

£60-90

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Tankas (3), 10.35, 10.27, 10.55g, Sk 1477, similar to previous lot but first coin with śi, ra na in 2nd line in Nagari, second with śi, ra in 2nd line and ra in 4th line in Nagari and decorative borders, third with śi, ra in 2nd line in Nagari only (RB.3, 4, 5; Bose A-2.6, 9, 3.2; KM.34), very fine or better (3)

£80-100

162

164

163 162

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Half-Tanka, 5.29g, Sk.1477, legend: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya within circle and border of dots (where visible), rev. Śrī Śrī/man Nara Nā/rāyana Bhupāla/sya Śāke/1477 (RB. 6; Bose A-4.2; KM. -), very fine, very rare

£250-350

Fractional tankas of Nara Narayan are very rare and seldom seen. 163

164

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Quarter-Tanka, 2.61g, Sk.1477, legend: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Ma(dhu/Karasya), rev. Śrī Śrī/man Nara Nā/(rā)yana Bhupā(la)/sya Śāke/1477, date partially visible, (RB.9; Bose A-5.2; KM. 30), very fine, very rare

£250-350

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), broad-flan Tanka, 36mm, 9.92g, Sk.1477, legends in Nagari: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrī/man Nara Nārā/yanasya Śāke/1477, both sides within circle and beaded border (RB.13a; Bose A6.1; KM. 35var), toned good very fine

£50-70

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

165 165

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), broad-flan Tanka, 36mm, 10.00g, Sk.1477, legends in archaic Bengali script: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrī/man Nara Nārā/yanasya Śāke/1477 both sides within circle and beaded border (RB.15; Bose A-6-3; KM. -), about very fine, scarce

£100-150

166 166

167

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Tanka, 10.51g, Sk.1477, similar to previous lot but on a smaller neat flan, star at end of first line of reverse (RB. 16; Bose A-6.21; KM. 36), attractive, very fine

£40-60

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Tankas (3), 10.04, 10.11, 9.92g, Sk.1477, as previous lot, legends in Bengali script, the first on a large flan, the last with a star at the end of the first line of the reverse (RB. 15, 16; Bose A-6.7, 26, 42; KM. 36), about very fine to good very fine (3)

£90-120

168 168

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), Tankas (4), 10.12, 9.69, 9.57, 10.37g, Sk.1477, as previous lots, legends in Bengali script, the first with no symbols at the end of the first line of the reverse, the second with three beads in same position on obverse, the third with moon at end of first line of the reverse, the last with a star (RB. 16 vars; Bose A-6.13, 16, 18, 25; KM. 36 ), including some scarce varieties, very fine to extremely fine (4) 45

£120-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

169 169

170

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), broad-flan Tanka, 33mm, 10.24g, Sk.1477, legends in Nagari: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrī/man Nara Nārā/yana Bhupāla/sya Śāke/1477, both sides within circle and beaded border (RB. 13; Bose A7.1; KM. 35), well struck on a large flan, good very fine, scarce

£50-70

Cooch Behar, Nara Narayan (1487-1555), broad-flan Tanka, 34mm, 9.92g, Sk.1477, legends in Nagari: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrī/man Nara Nā/rā/yana Bhupāla/sya Śāke/1477, both sides within circle and beaded border (RB. 13; Bose A-7.3; KM. 35), about very fine

£40-60

171 171

Cooch Behar, Laksmi Narayan (1587-1627), Tanka, 10.15g, Sk.1509, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya within ornametnal border of 14 cusped arcs, rev. Śrī Śrīma/n Lakshmi Nārāya/nasya Śāke/1509 within similar border of 14 cusped arcs (RB. 18; Bose B-3.2; KM.-), good very fine and extremely rare

£500-600

Lakshmi Narayan was the son of Nara Narayan. He was a rather weak ruler who, around 1596, declared himself a vassal of the Mughals, much to his subject’s disgust. This led to unrest in the state; he went to the Mughal governor in Dacca, where he was detained for 4 years. His coins follow the pattern of his father, except that far more Half-Tankas were struck. The present coin is one of only four known specimens with this particular type of decorative border. All four coins differ in the number of arches in the borders. See article by Rhodes in JONS 196 (2008) ‘Some rare coins of Lakshminarayana of Cooch Behar’. A similar coin sold in the first Rhodes auction for £700.

172 172

Cooch Behar, Laksmi Narayan (1587-1627), Tanka, 9.77g, Sk.1509, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya within double circle with border of beads, three beads at end of first line, rev. Śrī Śrīma/n Lakshmi Nārāya/nasya Śāke/1509 within similar border (RB. 19; Bose B-1.8; KM. 44), toned, about extremely fine

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£40-60

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

173 173

174

Cooch Behar, Laksmi Narayan (1587-1627), Tankas (3), 10.03, 10.23, 10.05g, Sk.1509, as previous lot but the first with a star at end of the first line, the second with a crescent, the third with two or three beads (RB. 19; Bose B-1.9, 11, 12; KM. 44), very fine (3)

£100-150

Cooch Behar, Laksmi Narayan (1587-1627), Tankas (2), 10.00, 10.22g, Sk.1509, as previous lot but the first with a single bead at end of the first line, the second with nothing (RB. 19a; Bose B-1.17, 18; KM. 44), good very fine (2)

£80-100

175

176 175

176

Cooch Behar, Laksmi Narayan (1587-1627), Tanka, 9.77g, Sk.1509, as previous lot but ‘ra’ of Nārayan has a short ‘a’ (RB. 20; Bose B-1.21; KM. 44), toned, very fine

£50-70

Cooch Behar, Laksmi Narayan (1587-1627), Tankas (3), 10.12, 9.62, 10.01g, Sk.1509, year 98 of Cooch Behar era, as previous lot but Śāke date 1509 with ‘98’ beneath (RB. 22; Bose B-2.14, 15, 16; KM. 45), generally very fine (3)

£100-150

CB98 = AD1608. This probably represents the actual date of issue, Sk. 1509 being the accession date.

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2) 177

178

Cooch Behar, Laksmi Narayan (1587-1627), Tankas (3), 10.07, 9.99, 9.37g, Sk.1509, year 98 of Cooch Behar era, as previous lot (RB. 22; Bose B-2.34, 35, 37; KM. 45), generally very fine (3)

£100-150

Cooch Behar, Laksmi Narayan (1587-1627), Tanka, 10.11g, Sk.1509, year 98 as previous lot, together with apparent copy of a Tanka of Nara Narayana, 10.18g. with mirror-image script, and a fantasy Tanka, 10.06g, with illegible script (RB. 22; Bose B2.9, KM. 45), very fine to extremely fine (3)

£90-120

179 179

Cooch Behar, Lakshmi Narayan (1587-1627), Half-Tankas (2), 5.08, 4.83g, Sk.1509 and Sk.1509 with year 98 of Cooch Behar era, as previous lot (RB. 24, 25; Bose B-5.4, 6.5; KM. 41, 42), very fine, the first scarce (2)

£60-80

Whereas the Half-Tankas of Nara Narayan are very rare, those of Lakshmi Narayan, apart from the ones struck from special dies, are more common, especially those with the additional year in the Cooch Behar era. 180

181

Cooch Behar, Lakshmi Narayan (1587-1627), Half-Tankas (3), 4.95, 4.97, 4.66g, Sk.1509 with year 98 of Cooch Behar era, similar to previous lot (RB. 25; Bose B-6.6, 6.7, 6.9; KM. 42), all dates not fully visible, good fine to very fine (3)

£60-80

Cooch Behar, Lakshmi Narayan (1587-1627), Half-Tankas (3), 4.96, 4.89, 4.92g, Sk.1509 with year 98 of Cooch Behar era, similar to previous lot (RB. 25; Bose B-6.10, 11, 12; KM. 42), all dates not fully visible, good fine to very fine (3)

£60-80

182 182

Cooch Behar, Raghudeva Narayan (1588-1603 in the eastern kingdom), broad Tanka, 10.16g, Sk.1510, Śrī Śrī/Hara Gaurī/Charana Kama/la Madhu Ka/rasya, within circle and border of beads, rev. Śrī Śrī/Raghudeva Nā/rāyanasya Bhupā/lasya Śāke/1510, a three-petal symbol at end of top line within a similar border (RB. 30; Bose C(E)-1.2; KM. 52), good very fine, slight toning, rare Raghudeva had governed the eastern part of the kingdom as the vassal of Nara Narayan since 1581. Once Lakshmi Narayan had succeeded to the throne, Ragudeva declared his full independence and struck coins dated Sk 1510 (AD 1588). He was opposed to Lakshmi Narayan’s submissive policy towards the Mughals and, as a result, had to contend with various Mughal campaigns to bring him to heel. WWW.SPINK.COM

£100-150

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

183 183

184

Cooch Behar, Raghudeva Narayan (1588-1603 in the eastern kingdom), broad Tankas (2), 10.38, 9.97g, Sk.1510, the first as previous lot, the second without symbol at end of first line of reverse (RB. 30, 30a; Bose C(E)-1.3, 2.5; KM. 52), the first with shroff marks on edge, very fine, both rare (2)

£150-200

Cooch Behar, Raghudeva Narayan (1588-1603 in the eastern kingdom), broad Tankas (2), 10.06, 10.36g, Sk.1510, two different types, as previous lot (RB. 30, 30a; Bose C(E)2.2, 2.3; KM. 52), about very fine to very fine, both rare (2)

£150-200

185 185

186

Cooch Behar, Raghudeva Narayan (1588-1603 in the eastern kingdom), Tanka, 9.31g, Sk.1510, legends in five lines on both sides, Śri Śri/Hara Gauri/Charana Kama/la Madhu Ka/rasya, star at the end of the first line, rev. Śri Śri/Raghudeva Na/rayanasya Bhupa/lasya Śake/1510, symbol at the end of the first line (RB. 30a var; Bose C(E)-2.8; KM. 52), very fine, rare

£100-150

This particular variety is not listed in RB and must have been obtained after the book was published in 1999. It is interesting to note the reduction in weight of the Tankas from this reign onwards, all now weighing less than 10g 186

Cooch Behar, Vira Narayan (1627-33), Tanka, 9.04g, Sk.1547 year 118 of Cooch Behar era, Śrī Śrī/Krishna Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrīma/d Vira Nārāya/nasya Śāke/1547/118 within circle and border of beads (RB. 33; Bose C-1.1; KM. 66), very fine, rare Vira Narayan (Bir Narayan) was the son of Lakshmi Narayan. Not many of his coins are known. The legends are the only ones in the Cooch Behar series that have an invocation to Krishna, rather than Siva and Parvati (Hara Gauri). They continue the practice of having not only the Saka year but also the Cooch Behar era year.

£180-250

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

188 187 187

188

Cooch Behar, Vira Narayan (1627-33), Tanka, 9.84g, Sk.1547 year 118 of Cooch Behar era, Śrī Śrī/Krishna Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrīma/d Vira Nārāya/nasya Śāke/1547/118 within circle and border of beads (RB. 33; Bose C-1.2; KM. 66), very fine, rare

£180-250

Cooch Behar, Vira Narayan (1627-33), Half-Tanka, 4.75g, Sk.1547, year 118 (partly visible), struck from Tanka dies, legends as previous lots of Vira Narayan (RB. 34; Bose C-2.1; KM. 64 (plate coin)), very fine with some toning, very rare

£200-300

Only one such Half-Tanka is noted in RB.

189 189

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Tanka, 9.75g, Sk.1554, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karaskya, rev. Śrī Śrīma/t Prāna Nārāyana/Bhupasya Śāke/1554 within circle and border of beads, ‘4’ of date engraved horizontally (RB. 35a; Bose D-2.2), about very fine, rare

£150-200

Prana Narayan’s coins do not follow the previous tradition of having fixed dates but have the date of striking, initially in Saka years and then in Rajsaka (Cooch Behar era) years. The full tankas of Prana Narayan are the last in the Cooch Behar series and are quite rare. They were soon superseded by the Half-Tankas, which became the staple coinage from then onwards. It is noteworthy that it was during this reign that the Ahoms in Assam began to strike coins. Trade must have been flourishing in the area at the time.

190 190

191

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Tanka, 9.66g, Sk.1554, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karaskya, rev. Śrī Śrīma/t Prāna Nārāya/nasya Śāke/1554 within circle and border of beads (RB. 37; Bose D-2.3; KM. 74), about very fine, rare

£150-200

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Tanka, 9.75g, Sk.1555, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karaskya, rev. Śrī Śrīma/t Prāna Nārāya/nasya Śāke/1555 within circle and border of beads (RB. 38; Bose D-3; KM. 74), about very fine, rare

£150-200

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

192 192

193

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Tanka, 9.79g, Sk.1555, as previous coin (RB. 38; Bose D-3.3; KM. 74), very fine, rare

£150-200

This is the last of the Cooch Behar issues bearing a Saka era date. 193

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Tanka, 9.11g, dated year 140 of the Cooch Behar era, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrīma/t Prāna Nārāya/nasya Śāke/140, within circle and border of beads (RB. 40; Bose D-4.2; KM. 75), very fine, rare

£200-300

194 194

195

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Half-Tankas (2), 4.84, 3.68g, Sk.1554, as previous lots but not all legend on flan (RB. 41; Bose D-5.1, 5.2; KM. 72), very fine and about very fine (2)

£40-60

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Half-Tankas (3), 4.86, 4.87, 4.55g, Sk.1554 (where visible), as previous lots, legends partly visible (RB. 41; Bose D-5.3, 5.5, 5.7; KM. 72), one with spot of verdigris, good fine to about very fine (3)

£50-70

196 196

197

198

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Half-Tanka, 4.83g Sk.155(5), struck from Tanka dies, legends as previous lots (RB. 42; Bose D-5.10; KM.-), good fine to about very fine

£40-50

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Half-Tankas (4), the first Sk.1555, the others with no visible date, the last with a cross under ‘na’ on the reverse (RB. 42; Bose D-5.6, 14, 16, 23; KM. 72), very fine (4)

£70-100

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Half-Tankas (4), the first Sk.1555, the others with no visible date, the last with a cross under ‘na’ on the reverse (RB. 42; Bose D-5.12, 15, 18, 21; KM. 72), very fine (4)

£70-100

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

199

199 (x1.5) 199

Cooch Behar/Mughal, Aurangzeb (1661-63 in Cooch Behar), Half-Tanka, 4.85g, probably year 4 of Aurangzeb’s reign, mint of ‘Alamgirnagar, legends in four lines on both sides, Aora/ngajeva Vā/dasaha Ala/mgira, cross under va, rev. Jarava/Alamgi/ rnagara/Sana (4) (RB. 55; Bose D(M)-1.2; KM. 85), good very fine, extremely rare

£1,000-1,500

Mughal forces under Mir Jumla invaded Cooch Behar in 1661 and stayed there until 1663. During this period Prana Narayan fled to Bhutan. Mir Jumla made the city of Cooch Behar his base and changed its name to ‘Alamgirnagar. He also issued coins in the name of the Mughal emperor on the local standard and in the local script but using the Persian language. This coin does not have a clear regnal year pertaining to Aurangzeb, but the date of the invasion would suggest it is ‘4.’ The Mughal invasion ended up as a disaster, with much loss of life. This issue, which fits into both the Cooch Behar and Mughal series, is extremely rare. Back in the 1980s some Rupee-size coins of similar type appeared on the market. They originated from Pakistan and were all modern confections. No genuine Rupee coins are known for this issue. Although Cooch Behar coins continued to be struck on the same weight standard, those from the Mughal period onwards, especially during the period of British influence, tend to be referred to as Half-Rupees or even Narayani Rupees, rather than Half-Tankas. From here on, therefore, they are called Half-Rupees even though there is no metrological reason for doing so.

200 200

Cooch Behar, Mada Narayan (1663-81), Half-Rupees (3), 4.85, 4.78, 4.61g, dated year 171 of the Cooch Behar era, legends on both sides only partially visible, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrīma/t Mada Nārā/yanasya Śāke/..., top part of date visible on first two coins (RB. 59; Bose E-1.7, 8, 9; KM. 91), about very fine to good very fine (3) The coins of Mada Narayan sometimes show part of a date but as the flans are much smaller than the dies, most coins do not show any date.

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£60-80

September 27, 2016 - LONDON 201

202

203

Cooch Behar, Mada Narayan (1663-81), Half-Rupees (3), 4.84, 4.83, 4.85g, legends on both sides only partially visible, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrīma/t Mada Nārā/yanasya Śāke/Ö (RB. 59; Bose E-1.4, 5, 6; KM. 91), very fine (3)

£50-70

Cooch Behar, Mada Narayan (1663-81), Half-Rupees (3), 4.79, 4.79, 4.76, as previous lot, but only one coin with top of date 171 visible, the others with unreadable dates (RB. 58, 59; Bose E-1. 10, 11, 12; KM. 91), very fine (3)

£60-80

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Half-Tanka, 4.95g, Rupa Narayan (16951715), Half-Rupee, 4.28g, Upendra Narayan (1715-63), Half-Rupee, 4.73g, Devendra Narayan (1763-65), Half-Rupee, 4.54g, Rajendra Narayan (1771-73), Half-Rupee, 4.68g, Dharendra/Harendra Narayan (1773-80/1783-1839), Half-Rupee, 4.47g, legends naming the respective ruler in each case (RB. 42, 62, 63, 64, 66, 68; Bose D-5, G-1, H-1, I-1, K-1, M-1; KM. 72, 109, 115, 121, 133, 141), generally very fine (6)

£120-150

It is not possible to distinguish between the coins of Dharendra Narayan and Harendra Narayan as the first letter of their names is never visible on the coins.

207

206

204 204

205

206

207

208

Cooch Behar, Prana Narayan (1633-65), Half-Tanka, 4.73g, Upendra Narayan (1715-63), Half-Rupee, 4.69g, Devendra Narayan (1763-65), Half-Rupee, 4.73g, Rajendra Narayan (1771-73), Half-Rupee, 4.58g, Dharendra/Harendra Narayan (1773-80/1783-1839), Half-Rupee, 4.64g, legends naming the respective ruler in each case (RB. 42, 63, 64, 66, 68; Bose D-5, H-1, I-1, K-1, M-1; KM. 72, 115, 121, 133, 141), generally very fine (5)

£100-130

Cooch Behar, Upendra Narayan (1715-63), Half-Rupees (2), 4.61, 4.70g, Devendra Narayan (1763-65), Half-Rupee, 4.75g, Dharendra/Harendra Narayan (177380/1783-1839), Half-Rupees (2), 4.64, 4.54g, legends naming the respective ruler in each case (RB. 63, 64, 68; Bose H-1, I-1, K-1, M-1; KM. 115, 121, 141), generally very fine (5)

£100-130

Cooch Behar, Dhaiyendra Narayan (1765-70, 1775-83), Half-Rupee, 4.63g, Dharendra/Harendra Narayan (1773-80/1783-1839), Half-Rupee, 4.63g, (RB. 65, 68; Bose J-1.3, M-1.5; KM. 127, 141), both with a couple of test marks, about extremely fine and extremely fine, unusually good for type (2)

£50-60

Cooch Behar, Shivendra Narayan (1839-47), Half-Rupee, 4.38g, legends on both sides only partly visible, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya, rev. Śrī Śrī/Shivendra/Nārāyana/Bhup (RB. 71; Bose N-2.2; KM. 151), very fine, rare

£100-150

Any Cooch Behar coins struck from this reign onwards were for presentation purposes, presumably to British officers at the time of the installation of the ruler. Most of the examples cited in RB are in British museums. 208

Cooch Behar, Nripendra Narayan (1863-1911), machine-struck presentation HalfRupee, 4.32g, year 354, crude version of Śrī Śrī/Śiva Charana/Kamala Madhu/Karasya in square, with arabesques around, rev. Śrī Śrī/Nripendra Nārāyana/Bhup/San 354 Sake (RB. 75; Bose P-2.2; KM. 180), reverse dies crack, toned about extremely fine, rare

£400-500

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

209

209 (x2)

209

Cooch Behar, Jitendra Narayan (1913-22), machine-struck presentation gold Mohur, 7.83g, dated CB 404 (1914), arms of the state supported by lion and elephant, GRISH at bottom, rev. Śrī Śrī/Jitendra Nārāyana/Bhup/Rāja Śakā 404 (RB.78; Bose R-1.1; KM.X.M10), about uncirculated with minor contact marks in fields, extremely rare Bruce, Catalog of Unusual World Coins states only 100 coins of this type were minted. Grish was the name of the Calcutta gold and silversmith company that made the coins. There are only three records of gold Mohurs of this date being sold at auction. The last time a coin of this date and type was offered in the UK was at Baldwin, Auction 84, 25 Sept 2013, lot 1352, where it achieved a price of £16,000.

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£5,000-7,000

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

210 210

Cooch Behar, Jagaddipendra Narayan (1922-49), machine-struck presentation HalfRupee, 5.36g, dated CB. 413 (1923), arms of the state supported by lion and elephant, GRISH at bottom, rev. Śrī Śrī/Jagaddipendrda/Nārāyana/Bhup/Rāja Śakā 413 (RB.80; Bose S-2.1; KM.X.M11), toned, about uncirculated, rare

£800-1,000

211 211

Cooch Behar, Jitendra Narayan (1913-22), oval silver medal, 4.62g, 15mm, portrait of ruler wearing turban within an ornamental frame, rev. arms of the state, date 1913 below, legend JITENDRA NARAYAN BHUP around, crown at top supports a loop (not in RB. but illustrated in Bose, p.47), extremely fine

£80-100

It is thought that this is a coronation medal.

212 212

Kings of Khyriem, in the name of Nara Narayan of Cooch Behar, Tanka, 30mm, 9.68g, dated Sk.1477, legend in four lines on both sides, Śrī Śrī Śi/va Charana Ka/mala Madhu Ka/rasya [six-pointed star], rev. Śrī Śrīma/n Nara Nārāya/nasya Śāke/1477, line above date, within circle and border of beads (RB. Z5 (Jaintiapur); Bose A-9.2), very fine, very rare Khyriem was an independent kingdom, located to the west of the Jaintia Hills, about which little is known. This and similar coins in the name of Nara Narayana are tentatively attributed to the Khasi King of Khyriem. The reason for attributing these coins to Khyriem is their similarity to the coins of Jaintiapur in both style and the inclusion of the six-pointed star, so typical of Jaintiapur coins. Moreover, the Koch chronicle recorded that, in around AD 1563, the Cooch Behar army defeated the king of Khyriem and ordered him to strike coins in the name of Nara Narayan.

£300-400

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

KACHAR The Dimasa-Kachari kings in Upper Assam had struck a few coins even before coins were struck in Cooch Behar. These are in the name of an enigmatic ruler, Vira Vijaya Narayana, and are dated Śaka 1424 and 1442 (AD 1502 and 1520). The legend invokes the Hindu deity, Chandi, while also referring to conquest of the enemies of Hachengsa, the traditional founder of the Dimasa kingdom. These coins provide interesting and unique evidence of Brahmanical influence in the Dimasa-Kachari kingdom, while it was still located in the Assam valley. It is recorded in the Ahom chronicles that the Kacharis were totally defeated in a series of battles between AD 1526 and 1536, when they finally retreated south to Maibong in south Assam, deserting their old capital at Dimapur in Nagaland. No reference to the Hindu traditions of the first Dimasa-Kachari kingdom is mentioned in any chronicles. By contrast, it is recorded that it was king Dersongpha, who led the Dimasa people south from Dimapur. Near Maibong he met a Brahmin who predicted good fortune, so he decided to settle there. He gave the king a new Hindu name, Nirbhaya Narayan, in place of his tribal name, and became the spiritual guide of the king. The implication in the official histories is that the Dimasa-Kacharis were tribal rulers before they reached Maibong, but numismatic evidence proves that this was not the case. All reference to previous Brahmanical influence was erased from history. Coins are known in the name of Nirbhaya Narayan dated to Śaka 1481 (AD 1559), and in the names of his successors. Most of the coins acknowledge ancestry from Hachengsa, following the tradition of the earlier coins. The invasion by Cooch Behar in AD 1563, during which Nirbhaya Narayan was killed, may have disrupted the coinage briefly, and it was only in 1563 that coins were minted by Megha Narayan in similar fabric. These coins were struck in the weight and fabric familiar to traders in Bengal. Apart from any ritual use to which they were put, they were used in trade passing through Kachar, as most surviving examples have been found in Bangladesh, well to the west of Maibong. After the early years of the 17th Century, this trade may have ceased, because the coinage totally changes in character. Even during the late 16th Century, some pieces become rather thin, and the quality of die engraving deteriorated. Furthermore, although these thin coins look like silver, analysis of one specimen has shown that at least some of them were struck in an alloy of tin and copper, with no trace of any precious metal. The traders presumably realised this, and no specimens of such debased coins have been reported from outside the immediate vicinity of Maibong. Whether they were intended for use as a local currency, or were purely for ritual use is not known. After the mid 17th Century, very few coins of the Dimasa-Kacharis are known and those that do exist are only known from single specimens. It would appear that from then until AD 1814, when the last Dimasa-Kachari coin was struck, they played no economic role in the community, and their use was purely ritual. The coinage of Kachar is rarely seen outside Bengal, and even there it is very seldomly available to collectors. The coins offered here may be the last chance to acquire some highly desirable coins from this area.

213 213

214

215

Kachar, Megha Narayana (1566-1583), Tanka, 9.84g, Sk.1488, legends in four lines on both sides, Hara Gaurī/Charana Parā/yana Hācheng/sā Vamśaja in double square within circle, border of beads, rev. Śri Śri Megah/Nārāyana Bhu/pālasya Śā/ke 1488, border as obverse (RB. 5.3; KM. 102), very fine, very rare

£500-600

The Tankas of Megha Narayana were struck from many different dies, with variations in legend arrangement and ornamentation, so that individual varieties remain very rare. The legend on this and subsequent Tankas include the epithet Hāchengsā Vamśaja, i.e. ‘belonging to the Hā Tsung Tsā clan.” 214

215

Kachar, Megha Narayana (1566-1583), Tanka, 9.78g, Sk.1488, as previous lot but rev. Śri Śri Me/gah Nārāyana/Bhupālasya/Śāke 1488, with beads in the lunettes (RB. 6.1; KM. 102), shroff mark at top of reverse, good very fine, very rare

£500-600

Kachar, Megha Narayana (1566-1583), Tanka, 9.58g, Sk.1488, as previous lot but rev. Śri Śri Megah/Nārāyana/Bhupālasya/Śāke 1488, with beads in the lunettes both sides (RB. 8.2; KM. 102), some dark staining, good very fine, very rare

£500-600

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

216 216

217

Kachar, Megha Narayana (1566-1583), Tanka, 10.50g, Sk.1488, legend in four lines on either side, Hara Gaurī/Charana Parā/yana Hācheng/sā Vamśaja in square within circle with crescents in lunettes, border of beads, rev. Śri Śri Megah/Nārāyana/Bhupālasya/Śāke 1488, border as obverse (RB. 10.1; KM. 102), very fine, very rare

£500-600

Kachar, Megha Narayana (1566-1583), Tanka, 9.58g, Sk.1488, as previous lot but obv. border within double square, except single line on left, rev. Śri Śri Me/gah Nārāya/na Bhupāla/sya Śāke/1488, double square border, except top lunette has crescent and bead (RB. 12.1; KM. 102), toned very fine and extremely rare

£500-600

218 218

219

Kachar, Megha Narayana (1566-1583), Tanka, 9.39g, Sk.1488, as previous lot but rev. Śri Śri Megah/Nārāyana/Bhupālasya/Śāke 1488, countermarked with the head of a lion of Tripura style, with beads in the lunettes both sides (RB. 13.1), fine, very rare, especially with countermark

£350-450

See lots 107 & 220 for other coins of this era with the same countermark 219

Kachar, Yaśo Narayana (1583-1601), Tanka, 9.5g, Sk 1505, legends in four lines on both sides: Hara Gauri/Charana Para/yana Hachenga/sa Vamsaja, rev. Śri Śri Jaso/Narayana/Bhupaasya/Śake 1505, both sides within a double circle all within an outer circle with beaded border; beads in all lunettes (RB. 15.1), chisel mark on obverse, very fine, some toning, very rare

£400-500

The coins of Yaśo Narayana fall into two main categories: silver Tankas like the present coin, slightly lighter than their Bengal Sultanate counterparts, usually found in Bangladesh, and often showing signs of wear or other treatment; and broad-flan Tankas, and Quarter-Tankas on thin flans, often of debased metal, which are found only in the north Kachar hills. The former were probably used for trading purposes beyond Kachar, while the latter must have been for local use only. The Quarter-Tankas are known from many different dies and hence varieties.

220

Kachar, Yaśo Narayana (1583-1601), Tanka, 9.75g, Sk.1505, as previous coin but reverse countermarked with the head of a lion of Tripura style, tear-shaped beads in border both sides (cf. RB. 15.1), chisel mark on reverse, darkly toned, coin and countermark very fine, very rare See lots 107 & 218 for other coins of this era with the same countermark 57

£400-500

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

221 221

Kachar, Yaśo Narayana (1583-1601), Tanka, 9.73g, Sk.181, Hara Gaurī/Charana Parā/yana Hāchenga/sā Vamśa-, rev. Śri Śri Jaśo/Nārāyana/Bhupālasya/ Śāke 181, both sides within double square all within outer circle with beaded border, beads in all lunettes (RB. 17.1; KM.-), very fine, very rare

£500-600

222 222

Kachar, Yaśo Narayana (1583-1601), Tanka, 9.42g, Sk.140, as previous lot but date on the reverse reads Śāke 140 (RB. 17.8), small edge split, about very fine, very rare

£500-600

223

223 (x1.5) 223

Kachar, Yaśo Narayana (1583-1601), Quarter-Tanka, 2.6g, undated, Hara Gaurī/Charana Pa/rāyana Bhu, rev. Śri Śri Ya/śo Nā/rāyana, both sides within double square framed by outer circle with beaded border, beads in all lunettes (RB. 25.8; KM. 107), very fine, very rare In the previous Rhodes auction a similar coin sold for £800 (lot 251).

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£500-600

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

224

224 (x1.5) 224

Kachar, Indra Pratap Narayana (1601-11), Quarter-Tanka, 2.33g, undated, Hara Gaurī/Charana Pa/rāyana, rev. Śri Śrīndra/Pratāpa/Nārāyana, both sides within square framed by outer circle with beaded border, beads in all lunettes (RB. 34.4), very fine and extremely rare

£600-800

During the reign of Indra Pratap Narayana the Dimasa Kachar kingdom reached the peak of its power, holding sway over most of the undivided Nagaon district, the north Kachar Hills, extending as far as the border of Bengal. After the annexation of territory in Sylhet, Indra Pratap Narayana helped the ruler of Sylhet to repulse a Mughal invasion. In the light of this it is somewhat surprising that his coins are so scarce, RB recording only a single Mohur, three dated Tankas, and a few other Tankas of fine silver with fabric similar to the trade coins of previous reigns, found in Bangladesh. The Quarter-Tankas are almost as rare, and this coin is the only one from this reign in the Rhodes collection.

225

225 (x1.5) 225

Kachar, Lakshmi Chandra Narayana (1772-1774), octagonal Rupee, 10.48g, Sk.1694, Śrī Śrī Rana/chandī Pāda Pa/dma Makaranda Ma/dhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī La/kshmī Chandra Nārā/yana Nrpavarasya/Śāke 1694, small clusters of beads and floral designs in fields (RB. 57.2; KM. 136), very fine, of the utmost rarity and probably the only known example According to RB, only two coins are known of this ruler, the gold Mohur that sold for £7000 in the previous Rhodes auction, and this Rupee. The octagonal coins clearly draw their inspiration from Assam. RB suggests that they may have been inspired and struck by Moamaria exiles from that state who had sought refuge in Kachar after their failed rebellion. The coin legends include an invocation to Ranachandi, the goddess of war. 59

£1,200-1,800

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

MANIPUR It was in Śaka 1646 (AD 1724) that Gharib Niwaz of Manipur first struck coins in this state. Manipur was very remote and materially poor, and the coins were initially struck in a brass alloy called ‘bell-metal’, rather than in any precious metal. Although the earliest coins have obverse and reverse dies, all the coins were uniface, either bearing the impression of an obverse die or of a reverse die, as the workers at the mint could not figure out the technology of striking a coin with an impression on both sides. Gharib Niwaz was the first Manipuri king to receive Brahmins at court, and the date on these coins must represent an important event in the transformation from tribal traditions into a Hindu state, although no such event is recorded in the Manipur court chronicle, the Chaitarol Kumbaba. This chronicle was written in old Manipuri language and script, whereas the coins had a legend in Nagari script, demonstrating the two parallel, but conflicting, traditions. Also the use of Nagari script on the coins shows that the Brahminical influence was not from Bengal, and there was no attempt to follow the precedents set by the other Hindu states of north-east India. In AD 1756, a few square gold and silver coins were struck by the Manipuri ruler, this time using both obverse and reverse dies on the same coin. Interestingly these rare coins were dated to the month and day of striking, a feature almost unique to Manipur. They also bore the name of the queen. The weight standard of these coins, at over 13g, was heavier than that used by any neighbouring state. These coins are so rare that they can only have had a ritual or donative significance, and they probably never circulated in the local market. Interestingly, the finest collection of these coins is in the British Museum in London, representing coins presented by the King of Manipur to the East India Company, which he believed, correctly as it turned out, would help him maintain his independence from his neighbours and traditional enemies, the Burmese. Apart from these rare silver and gold coins, Manipur continued to strike small bell-metal ‘Sels’, small uniface coins with low value that were popular in the markets. Cowrie shells did not reach Manipur, so it was through these small coins that the local Manipuris were first introduced to the benefits of monetisation. These coins continued to be struck until AD 1891, when the British took over the administration of the state. This auction offers two rare square rupees of Gaura Simha and Chaurajit Simha respectively (lots 226 & 227) as well as a selection of sels, including some rare early ones.

226

226 (x1.5) 226

Manipur, Gaura Simha (c.1756-1764), square Rupee, 11.96g, Sk.1678, legends both sides, Jesrī Gaura Sīm/hā Manipure/sva Priyāta/mā Rānīh, rev. Vaisakh Su/dhī Terakhava/de 1, Samvat/1678, within a square frame, form of ‘6’ is unusual (RB. 8; KM. 23), toned very fine, extremely rare Coins of this ruler are rarely available and were probably issued in very limited quantities. This rupee was struck in the month of Vaisakh (the second month of the Hindu calendar) Sk. 1678 (AD 1756) most likely on the occasion of the installation of the king. It was during this reign that Manipur first made contact with the British, due to the threat from the Burmese.

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£1,500-2,000

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

227 227

Manipur, Chaurajit Simha (c.1804-1812), square Rupee, 11.52g, Sk.1734, legends on both sides, Śrīmadrādha Go/vinda Padā Ravin/da Makaranda Ma/no Madhu Karasya, rev. Śrīman Manipure/śvara Śrī Chauraji/t Simha Nripavara/sya Śāke 1734 (RB. 22; KM. 57), a couple of weak areas, but generally very fine, rare

228 228

229

£600-800

230

Manipur (18th century), large anonymous uniface Sel, 22mm, 3.99g, inscription Da ga? with traces of a third syllable (RB. pp.47- 48), crude very fine, rare

£50-60

Base-metal Sels were the coins used by the ordinary people in their day to day transactions. These early types are larger and heavier than the more common Sels usually encountered. They are rarely seen outside Bengal, and are seldom available to collectors. 229

230

231

Manipur (18th century), large anonymous uniface Sel, 22 mm, 3.95g, single letter Jī (RB. pp.47-48), crude very fine, rare

£50-60

Manipur (18th century), large anonymous uniface Sel, 21mm, 3.42g, inscription Ja da, with traces of a third letter beneath ‘Ja’ (RB. pp.47-48), crude very fine, rare

£50-60

Manipur (18th century), large anonymous uniface Sels (5), with various letters or partial inscriptions on obverse (RB. p.47-48), crude fine to very fine, rare (5)

£100-150

232 232

Manipur (19th century), group of 8 base-metal uniface Sels, various weights, with legends: la, mā, rā, bha, śri (2 different types), others (2) (RB. pp50-51), crude fine to very fine (8)

£80-100

Attempts have been made to ascribe the different legends to different rulers, e.g. Chaurajit Singh, Marajit Singh, Chandra Kirti, Nara Singh, Sura Chandra, Kula Chandra, but this remains tentative. 233

234

Manipur, group of 8 base-metal uniface Sels, as previous lot, with legends mā, bha?, rā, śri (2), others (3) (RB. pp50-51), crude fine to very fine (8)

£80-100

Manipur, group of 10 base-metal uniface Sels, as previous lot, with legends mā (2), bha?, rā (2), śri (2), others (3) (RB. pp50-51), crude fine to very fine (10)

£80-100

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

JAINTIAPUR Jaintiapur is an interesting state, in that the ruler, of Khasi-Synteng lineage, ruled as a tribal ruler in the Jaintia Hills, but as a Hindu king in the plains, where his territory abutted the Muslim territory of Sylhet. There was a close rivalry between the Jaintia rulers, and their neighbours in Kachar. The first Jaintia coin was probably struck around AD 1560, at the same time that Nirbhaya Narayana struck his coin in Maibong, but the coin is different in some important ways. While the weight, design and fabric is identical to the coin of the Dimasa-Kachari ruler, and both invoke homage to Lord Shiva, the Jaintia coin has no date, and does not mention the name of the king, identifying itself only as a coin of the Jaintia people. It seems that although there was some Brahmanical influence in the court at Jaintiapur in the plains, the ruler still maintained many Khasi traditions, which dictated that his name should not appear on coins. The invasion by the Cooch Behar forces in AD 1563 disrupted the coinage, as in Kachar, and the ruler was slain in battle. According to the Cooch Chronicle, his successor was forbidden from ever striking coins in his own name. Interestingly this interdiction was not reflected on the coins, since in Śaka 1497 (AD 1575) a coin was struck in Jaintia in the name of Vijaya Manik. However, it seems that this was a single exception, perhaps to prove that Jaintia was no longer subjected to any control from Cooch Behar, but more probably because of influence from Kachar. From then on, none of the coins of Jaintia have the name of the ruler, reverting to their Khasi traditions, rather than for any other reason. From the early 18th Century, the coins become very debased, perhaps because the right to strike them was auctioned off to the highest bidder. Again this is indicative of the continuing tribal status of the king, who had comparatively little influence over the affairs of state, with major decisions taken by a committee of local tribal chiefs. The coins still played a role as a circulating medium in both the Jaintia plains and in the hills, until the British took over the administration in the 1830’s, but they were never accepted for circulation outside the state. Of particular interest in this auction are the coins of Vijaya Manik, Lakshmi Simha and Ram Simha (lots 235, 236 & 237), while some of the later issues are also rarely encountered.

235 235

Jaintiapur, Vijaya Manik (1575-?), Tanka, 9.7g, Sk.1497, legends on each side, Śri Śri Bhu/banesarā/Charana Pa/rāyana [star], rev. Śri Śri Vija/ya Mānika/Devasya Śa/ke 1497, both sides framed by a double square within a circular beaded border, beads in lunettes (RB. C1), with attractive dark tone, very fine and extremely rare

£800-1,000

236 236

Jaintiapur, Lakshmi Simha (1670-1703), Tanka, 9.8g, Sk.1592, Śri Śri Śi/va Charana ka/mala Madhu Ka/rasya [star], pistol in left margin, sword to right, bead at end of first line and two beads lower left, three beads above, within a beaded circular frame, crescent at top, rev. Śri Śri Ja/yantipura Pu/randarasya Śa/ke 1592, bead at start and end of top line, within a beaded circular frame, countermark on reverse exergue line (RB. H4; KM. 140), small patches of verdigris on obverse, attractive dark tone, very fine, rare In the early 17th century there is a gap of almost 60 years for which no coins of Jaintiapur are known. Little is known about the history of this period or about the rulers. From this issue, however, all the coins of Jaintiapur are of the same basic anonymous type; all have the ‘Star of David’ in the same position, all have a single, fixed date for each king, which is presumed to be the accession year. WWW.SPINK.COM

£300-400

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

237 237

238

Jaintiapur, Ram Simha (1703-08), Tanka, 9.2g, Sk. 1625, Śri Śri Śi/va Charana ka/mala Madhu Ka/rasya [star], pistol lower right, sword upper right, in a square border, three beads above, crescents in other three lunettes, within a beaded circular frame, rev. Śri Śri Ja/yantipura Pu/randarasya Śa/ke 1625, within a beaded circular frame (RB. I1; KM. 150 (plate coin)), about very fine, very rare

£500-600

Jaintiapur, Jaynarayan (1708-31), Tanka, 10.06g, Sk. 1630, Śri Śri Śi/va Charana ka/mala Madhu Ka/rasya [star], pistol in left margin, sword in right, cross flanked by two beads above, within a circular beaded frame with top bead within a crescent, rev. Śri Śri Ja/yantipura Pu/randarasya Śa/ke 1630, two beads at start of top line and three beads at end, within a circular beaded frame (RB. J4; KM. 160), some deposits on obverse, very fine, scarce

£80-100

239 239

240

Jaintiapur, Jaynarayan (1708-31), Tanka, 10.00g, Sk. 1630, as previous lot, elongated beads either side of cross (RB. J5; KM. 160), trace of mount at top of obverse and bottom of reverse, dark toning, very fine, scarce

£80-100

Jaintiapur, Bargosain II (1731-70), Tanka, 9.10g, Sk. 1653, Śri Śri Śi/va Charana ka/mala Madhu Ka/rasya [star], pistol in left margin, sword to right, symbol ‘N’ above, eight beads in lower half, within beaded circle, crescent at top, rev. Śri Śri Ja/yantipura Pu/randarasya Śa/ke 1653, two beads at start of top line and three at end, a row of five beads top and bottom, all within a circular beaded border (RB. K14; KM. 177), some red powder between characters on obverse, very fine

£60-80

The coins of this ruler are relatively common and occur in many varieties depending on the number and placement of beads and the symbol above the first line of the obverse. Deyell in 1980 (Numismatic Digest, Vol. IV, part II), thought the number of beads might relate to the regnal year but more recent studies have resulted in a greater number of varieties than years of the reign. It is likely, however, that as the reign progressed, the number of beads increased. Their actual significance is uncertain, but it is reported that the striking of these coins was farmed out to private contractors, so it may be that the bead system enabled the authorities to identify which contractor struck which coins. The coins appears to be struck using somewhat debased silver; examples occur countermarked and with a small drill hole. As usual, KM does not list the various varieties. 241

Jaintiapur, Bargosain II (1731-70), Tankas (2), 9.00, 9.98g, Sk. 1653, legends and main symbols as previous lot, but first with symbol ‘D’ above top line, the second with symbol ‘O’, different bead arrangements (RB. K4, 15; KM. 177), the second with some adhesions and damage, both very fine (2)

£80-120

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

242 242

243

Jaintiapur, Bargosain II (1731-70), Tankas (2), 9.45, 9.60g, Sk. 1653, legends and main symbols as previous lot, but first with symbol ‘J’ above top line, the second with symbol ‘M’, different bead arrangements both with obverse countermark and drill hole (RB. K9b, K12; KM. 177), very fine (2)

£80-120

Coins with the countermark and the drill hole are said to be scarcer than those without them. 243

244

Jaintiapur, Bargosain II (1731-70), Tankas (2), 9.80, 9.55g, Sk. 1653, legends and main symbols as previous lot, but first with symbol ‘C’ above top line, the second with symbol ‘M’, different bead arrangements, the first with obverse punch, the second with reverse countermark (RB. K3, K13; KM. 177), very fine (2)

£80-120

Jaintiapur, Bargosain II (1731-70), Tankas (2), 7.30, 9.35g, Sk. 1653, legends and main symbols as previous lot, but both with symbol ‘M’ above top line, different bead arrangements (RB. K13; KM. 177), the first weakly struck, fine, the second very fine (2)

£50-70

245 245

Jaintiapur, Chattra Simha (1774-82), Tanka, 9.51g, Sk. 1696, Śri Śri Śi/va Charana ka/mala Madhu Ka/rasya [star], pistol in left margin, sword to right, symbol ‘M’ above, seven beads in lower half, within beaded circle, crescent at top, rev. Śri Śri Ja/yantipura Pu/randarasya Śa/ke 1696, three flowers at top and one at start and end of top line, all within circular beaded border (RB. L2; KM. 185), weakly struck, good fine, scarce

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£100-150

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

246 246

Jaintiapur, Jatra Narayan (1782-85), Tankas (2), 10.69, 10.75g, Sk. 1704, Śri Śri Śi/va Charana ka/mala Madhu Ka/rasya [6-pointed star], symbol M above legend, three beads in lower field; rev. Śri Śri Ja/yantipura Pu/randarasya Śa/ke 1704, with three bead patterns at top and star at start and end of top line, bud in right field (RB. M2; KM. 192), the first with some obverse damage and staining, fine, the second very fine, both rare (2)

£140-180

Jatra Narayan was the nephew of Chattra Simha. His coins are rare.

247 247

Jaintiapur, Bijay Narayan (1785-88 or 90?), Tanka, 9.16g, Sk. 1707, legends and symbols as previous lot but with five beads in lower field, rev. with 12 beads at top, three beads at start and two at end of top line (RB. N3b; KM. 199), obverse double struck and a little weak, good very fine, rare

£100-140

The coins of this ruler were struck using quite a base alloy and often have traces of silvering, probably to hide the debasement.

248 248

249

Jaintiapur, Bijay Narayan (1785-88 or 90?), Tanka, 9.19g, Sk. 1707, legends and symbols as previous lot but with three beads in lower field, rev. with three bead patterns at top and star at start and end of top line (RB. N1; KM. 199), weakly struck, good fine, rare

£80-120

Jaintiapur, Bijay Narayan (1785-88 or 90?), Tanka, 8.53g, Sk. 1707, legends and main symbols as previous lots but with symbol ‘N’ above top line and two beads at start of bottom line, rev. 12 beads at top, three beads at start and two at end of top line (RB. N3b?; KM. 199), weakly struck with some discolouration, good fine

£40-60

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

250 250

251

Jaintiapur, Ram Simha (1790-1832), Tankas (2), 9.25, 8.78g, Sk 1712, as previous lot but with symbol M above top line, the first with four beads in lower field, the second with nine, rev. the first with five beads above legend and two beads to left and three to right of top line, the second with cross between two beads, and bud to left and right of top line (RB. O1a, O3b; KM. 206), the first poorly struck, good fine, the second with edge blow, very fine (2)

£80-120

Jaintiapur, Ram Simha (1790-1832), Tankas (2), 9.19, 8.65g, Sk 1712, as previous lot but, both with two beads in lower field, rev. the first with three clusters of four beads above legend, the second with five beads, both with three beads either side of top line (RB. O2 var, O3b; KM. 206), the first weakly struck, about fine, the second with dark toning, attractive very fine (2)

£80-120

252 252

253

Jaintiapur, Ram Simha (1790-1832), Tanka, 8.85g, Sk 1712, as previous lot, symbol M above top line, two beads in lower field, rev. five beads above legend, three beads either side of top line (RB. O3a; KM. 206), attractively toned, very fine

£50-70

Jaintiapur, Ram Simha (1790-1832), Tanka, 8.79g, Sk 1712, as previous lot, symbol M above top line, trefoil in lower field, rev. flower between two clusters of beads above legend, leaf spray either side of top line (RB. O8; KM. 206), pleasing, very fine, a scarce type

£50-70

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

AHOM KINGDOM OF ASSAM Although the Ahom kingdom, with its capital in upper Assam, was generally the most powerful kingdom in the region, it is interesting that coins were first struck there only in Śaka 1570 Śaka (AD 1648). Only then were the Brahmins at court strong enough to persuade the king to strike coins, but even so, the main reason may have been that the Ahoms were expanding their territory westwards, into an area of ancient Kamrupa that had been monetised. The coins struck by Jayadhvaja Simha were octagonal in shape, beautifully produced, weighed circa 11.3g, and were very different from the coins struck by any other kingdom. The first coins did not carry the king’s name, and one piece is known with a Chinese legend, Bao Zang (meaning Tibetan Coin) indicating that the Assamese had ambitions, albeit unsuccessful, to increase trans-Himalayan trading links (lot 258). In AD 1662/3, the Ahom ruler was forced to abandon his capital before the invading Mughal forces under Mir Jumla, and may have concluded that he had offended the Ahom tribal deities by striking coins only honouring the Hindu deities. Accordingly, from 1663, coins appeared with legends in the traditional Ahom language and script, honouring the Ahom deities. Such coins were issued until AD 1696, when Rudra Simha ascended the throne. The Brahmins had significant influence at his court, and he reverted to issuing coins in Assamese-Bengali script and honouring Hindu deities. Another innovation was to place the actual date of striking on the coins, whereas all the other states of the north-east only changed the date of the coin when the ruler changed. For the next century a fine series of coins was issued continuously in both gold and silver, with an increasing number of small denominations as the coins became gradually accepted for modest market transactions, in preference to the traditional cowrie shell. Occasionally coins were struck in the old Ahom script, perhaps on the occasion of the traditional installation ceremony when the old gods were honoured. Some coins were also struck with legends in the Urdu language, showing some Mughal influence, but such pieces were rare exceptions, rather than the rule. The last coins to be struck in Assam were by Jogeśvara Simha, a puppet Ahom ruler installed by the Burmese in 1821, after they had invaded Assam in that year. This invasion triggered a response from the British, who had previously not ventured further than Cooch Behar in their colonial ambitions. The Burmese were driven out by the British, and Purandara Simha, a prince from the old Ahom royal family, was installed on the throne, but was forbidden to strike coins. The British demanded tribute from the new Ahom ruler, as compensation for the cost of driving out the Burmese, and although they had forbidden Purandara Simha from striking his own coins, they demanded that he pay the tribute in old Ahom coins. They had worked out that the old coins were of a better standard than the coins struck by the British and hence it was in their interest to receive tribute in this form. For a time this worked well, but after some years the stock of old coins became exhausted and Purandara Simha was forced to make his own copies of the old coins to satisfy the demands of the British. However, he used a less fine alloy, which displeased the British greatly, and soon afterwards they removed him from the throne for ‘maladministration’, and incorporated the whole of Assam into their jurisdiction. This auction offers a superb range of Assamese coins. Of particular note are the unique Rupee of Jayadhvaja Simha naming Tibet (lot 258), the nine sided gold Mohur of Ramakanta Simha (lot 333), the Mohur and Rupee of Rajesvara Simha with Persian legends (lots 316, 331) and the Ahom rupees of Dihingia Raja II and Rajesvara Simha (lots 268, 319). Some rare or very rare square-format coins are on offer (lots 325, 332, 343) as well as various gold Mohurs and fractions, some of which are known from one or two examples.

254 254

Assam, Jayadhvaja Simha (1648-63), octagonal Rupee, 11.34g, Sk. 1570, four line inscription in Assamese script on both sides within a double linear border with beads, Śrī Śrī Ha/ri Hara Chara/na Parāya/nasya, one bead lower right, rev. Śrī Śrī Śva/rga Nārāya/nasya Śāke/1570 (RB. A3.4; KM. 1), one minor reverse test punch, very fine, scarce The Ahom rulers of Assam adopted the octagonal format that became standard for Assamese coins until the end of the series, with only a few exceptions. The legends do not cite the ruler’s name but have an invocation to Hari Hara, a syncretic deity combining both Vishnu and Shiva. The coins of the first few Assamese coin-issuing rulers all have fixed dates. 67

£150-200

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

255 255

Assam, Jayadhvaja Simha (1648-63), octagonal Rupee, 11.25g, Sk. 1570, as previous lot but the word Śrī differently engraved, no obverse bead, rev. Śrī Śrī Sva/rga Nārāyana/Devasya Śāke/1570, two beads within legend (RB. A5.1; KM. 2), good fine, scarce

256 256

257

£140-180

257

Assam, Jayadhvaja Simha (1648-63), octagonal Rupee, 11.52g, Sk. 1570, as previous lot but with bead in bottom right section of obverse (RB. A5 var; KM. 2), good very fine, scarce

£150-200

Assam, Jayadhvaja Simha (1648-63), octagonal Rupee, 11.76g, Sk. 1570, as previous lot but crescent at top of reverse and various bead groups in obverse and reverse fields (RB. A5.6; KM. 3), very fine, scarce

£150-200

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

258

258 (x2)

258

Assam, Jayadhvaja Simha (1648-63), octagonal Rupee, 11.36g, Sk. 1570, large crudely engraved Chinese character ‘bao,’ within square, surrounded by border of pellets, rev. Chinese character ‘zang,’ written mirror-image, date 1570 beneath (RB. A7.1; KM. -), good very fine, of the highest rarity and historical value Nicholas Rhodes described this as ‘perhaps the most remarkable of all Ahom coins.’ Although he mentions that there was rumoured to be another example in a collection in Kolkata, this is certainly the first and only one of its type to be offered at auction. He translates the characters ‘zang bao’ as ‘Currency of Tibet’ as ‘Zang’ is the Chinese character for the province of southern Tibet bordering Assam. Also these two characters were used on the coins struck by the Chinese in Lhasa between 1792 and 1836. He suggests that as there was significant contact between Tibet and China in the mid 17th century it is likely that the Assamese would have thought it appropriate for an Assamese-Tibetan trade coin. He concluded that this coin marked an attempt by Jayadhvaja Simha to expand and profit from trade with Tibet. However, the project was doomed to fail, as around 1652 Pratap Malla of Kathmandu signed a treaty with Tibet giving Nepal a monopoly over transit trade between India and Tibet.

£5,000-10,000

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

259 259

260

261

Assam, Chakradhvaja Simha (siu-pung-mung) (1663-70), octagonal Rupee, 11.14g, Sk. 1585, legends in Assamese script both sides within beaded border, Śrī Śrī Śi/va Rāma Padā/rabinda Parā/yanasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Sva/rga Deva Chakradhva/ja Simhasya Śāke/1585 (RB. B1.1; KM. 8), very fine, scarce

£140-180

Chakradhvaja Simha succeeded his father, soon after the Mughal invasion, and made sure his name was inscribed on the coinage. The coins come in two main categories: those in Assamese script with his Hindu name, and those in Ahom script with his Ahom name. The former all have the fixed date Sk. 1585, while the latter are dated to the 15th year of the 60 year cycle (= AD 1663). The coins of this reign continue to maintain their octagonal shape but a couple of round Rupees are also known (see lot 299 in part I). 260

261

Assam, Chakradhvaja Simha (siu-pung-mung) (1663-70), octagonal Rupee, 11.58g, dated Sk. 1585, Śrī Śrī Śi/va Rāma Padā/rabinda Parā/yanasya, various beads in field, rev. Śrī Śrī Sva/rga Deva Chakradhva/ja Simhasya Śāke/1585 (RB. B1.5; KM. 8), toned very fine, scarce

£140-180

Assam, Chakradhvaja Simha (siu-pung-mung) (1663-70), octagonal Rupee, 11.23g, Ahom legends, dated the 15th year (of the 60 year cycle) Kāo/boi phā/Tā-rā/heu chiu, rev. Chao phā/Siu-pung-mu/ng/pin chan/Lāk-ni/plek-ngi (RB. 7; KM. 10), very fine, scarce

£100-150

The obverse legends can be translated as ‘I offer a prayer in the name of heavenly Tara.’ The reverse as ‘The god Siu-pung-mung became king in the 15th year’ (of the 60 year cycle)’= 1663

262 262

263

Assam, Chakradhvaja Simha (siu-pung-mung) (1663-70), octagonal Rupee, 11.03g, as previous lot (RB. 7; KM. 10), dark obverse toning, very fine, scarce

£100-150

Assam, Chakradhvaja Simha (siu-pung-mung) (1663-70), octagonal Rupee, 11.29g, as previous lot (RB. 7; KM. 10), dark toning both sides, very fine, scarce

£90-120

264 264

265

Assam, Chakradhvaja Simha (siu-pung-mung) (1663-70), octagonal Rupee, 11.39g, Ahom legends, dated the 15th year (of the 60 year cycle) Kāo/boi phā/Tā-rā/heu chiu, crescents in cardinal points of border, rev. Chao phā/Siu-pung-mu/ng/pin chan/Lākni/plek-ngi, lion to left in border (RB. B9.1; KM. -), toned very fine, scarce

£100-150

Assam, Chakradhvaja Simha (siu-pung-mung) (1663-70), octagonal Rupee, 11.20g, as previous lot but no crescents in border, rev. lion below legend (RB. B10; KM. 12), very fine, scarce

£100-150

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

266

267

266 267 Assam, Chakradhvaja Simha (siu-pung-mung) (1663-70), octagonal Rupee, 11.03g, as previous lot but with crescents in obverse border (RB. B11.2; KM. 12), toned very fine, scarce

£100-150

Assam, Chakradhvaja Simha (siu-pung-mung) (1663-70), octagonal Rupee, 11.17g, Ahom legends, Kāo/boi phā/Tā-rā/heu chiu, rev. legend crudly written, naming Siu-pungmung, lion standing right at bottom (RB. B-; KM. 12), edge damaged in two places, very fine, scarce

£70-100

Both sides are struck from poorly engraved dies, the reverse in particular does not have the normal legend, the die appearing to have been struck by a person who did not understand Ahom script

268 268 (x1.5) 268

Assam, Dihingia Raja II (siu-hung) (1675-77), octagonal Rupee, 11.25g, Ahom legends, struck in year 27 (of the 60 year cycle), Kāo/boi Phā/Tā-rā/heu chiu, rev. Caho Phā/Siu-hung pi/n-chan lāk-ni/Khut-ngī (RB. D1.1; KM. 25), very fine, extremely rare

£1,500-2,000

Rhodes described the coins struck in the name of Siu hung as among the rarest of all the Ahom coins, with only three specimens known to him in 2004. No coins are known from the previous two rulers, or his two successors, as Assam was experiencing a period of unrest. Judging by their dates, Ahom coins were only struck for the traditional coronation ceremonies. The ancient records known as buranjis do not record coronations for many of the short-lived rulers of this time, which may account for the lack of coins.

269 269

Assam, Gadadhara Simha (Siu-pat-pha) (1681-96), octagonal Rupee, 11.11g, Ahom legends, dated year 33 (of the 60 year cycle), legends in four lines on each side within the usual beaded border, Kāo boi/phā Leng-/don heu/chiu, rev. Chao Siu-/pat-phā pi/n khun lāk/-ni Rāi-sān (RB. E1.2; KM. 28), very fine Gadadhara managed to survive the decade of disturbances following the death of Chakradhvaja Simha. Early in his reign he expelled the Muslims from Guwahati, thereby capturing a large amount of booty, which presumably enabled him to strike much of his coinage. All his coins are dated to the 33rd year of the 60 year cycle used by the Ahoms. The legends invoke the Ahom deity, Lengdon, often identified as Indra. One or more bird symbols also often occur on the coins, as does a lion. 71

£60-80

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

270 270

Assam, Gadadhara Simha (Siu-pat-pha) (1681-96), octagonal Rupees (2), 11.21, 11.19g, as previous lot but obverse with a lion lower right (RB. E2.1, E2.2; KM. 29), the first with obverse darkly coloured, both very fine (2)

271 271

272

£120-150

272

Assam, Gadadhara Simha (Siu-pat-pha) (1681-96), octagonal Rupees (2), 11.07, 11.28g, the first as previous lot, the second with lion chasing bird, with an additional small bird added to the left border of the obverse (RB. E2.4, 4.1; KM. 29, 31), both very fine (2)

£150-200

Assam, Gadadhara Simha (Siu-pat-pha) (1681-96), octagonal Rupee, 11.04g, as previous lot but obverse with a lion lower right chasing a bird, upper right (RB. E3; KM. 30), with old toning and traces of red powder, good very fine

£100-150

273

274 273

274

Assam, Gadadhara Simha (Siu-pat-pha) (1681-96), octagonal Rupee, 11.03g, legends as previous lots, obverse with a bird preening itself lower right and dot pattern at the bottom, reverse with a lion lower right (RB. E5.1; KM. 32), good very fine with some reverse discolouration

£80-100

Assam, Gadadhara Simha (Siu-pat-pha) (1681-96), octagonal Rupees (2), 11.25, 10.98g, legends, bird and lion as previous lot, without the dot pattern at the bottom of the obverse (RB. E5.2, E5.3; KM. 32), the first with some reverse discolouration, very fine (2)

£100-150

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON 275

276

Assam, Gadadhara Simha (Siu-pat-pha) (1681-96), octagonal Rupees (2), 11.20, 10.82g, legends as previous lots, obverse with bird walking lower right, reverse with lion lower right (RB. E6.2, E6.3; KM. 33), about very fine and good very fine (2)

£100-120

Assam, Gadadhara Simha (Siu-pat-pha) (1681-96), octagonal Rupees (3), 11.04, 11.03, 10.90g, the first with legends and symbolds as previous lot, struck from different dies, the last two with a bird in crescent at the top of obverse (RB. E6.5, 7.2, 7.4; KM. 33, 34), very fine (3)

£150-200

277

277 (x1.5) 277

Assam, Rudra Simha (1696-1714), octagonal gold Mohur, 11.24g, Sk.1620, four-line legends both sides, Śrī Śrī Ha/ra Gaurī Pa/dāmbuja Madhu/karasya, rev. Śrī Śrīmat/Svarga Deva Ru/dra Simhasya Śā/ke 1620, lion running left below (RB. F1.1; KM. 45), very fine, extremely rare

£2,000-2,500

Rudra Simha succeeded his father in AD 1696 and straightaway made significant changes to the coinage: the inscriptions were Sanskrit rather than Ahom, and engraved in Assamese script, and the coins (apart from the Half- Rupees) began to bear the actual date of striking, not a fixed date. The coins also bear a Saivite invocation. Gold coinage is extremely rare, being known from very few examples.

278 278

Assam, Rudra Simha (1696-1714), octagonal Rupees (4), Sk. 1620, 1621, 1622, 1623, legends in four lines on both sides within usual border, Śrī Śrī Ha/ra Gaurī Pa/dāmbuja Madhu/karasya, rev. Śrī Śrīmat/Svarga deva rudra/Simhasya Śāke [date], lion below running to right (RB. F8.1, 9.1, 10, 11; KM. 40), very fine (4)

£120-180

The coin of Sk. 1621 not illustrated. 279

Assam, Rudra Simha (1696-1714), octagonal Rupees (2), 11.24, 11.34g, Sk. 1625, 1636, legends as previous lot, the second coin with a crescent after the date (RB. F13.1, F24.2; KM. 40), the second with some staining, but scarce, very fine (2) 73

£80-100

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

280

281 280

Assam, Rudra Simha (1696-1714), octagonal Rupee, 11.22g, Sk. 1629, normal rupee legends for this ruler, but very rare date (RB. F17.1; KM. 40), good very fine, very rare

£100-150

Coins of year 1628 and 1629 are particularly rare and must have been struck in very small quantities. RB offers a possible explanation for this, which may have been to do with the military expedition against Kachar that took place at this time. 281

282

Assam, Rudra Simha (1696-1714), octagonal Rupees (4), Sk. 1630, 1631, 1632, 1633, legends as previous lot (RB. F18.1, 19.1, 20.1, 21.1; KM. 40), generally very fine or a little better (4)

£120-180

Assam, Rudra Simha (1696-1714), octagonal Rupees (3), Sk. 1634, 1635, 1636, legends as previous lot (RB. F22.1, 23.1, 24.1; KM. 40), generally very fine or a little better (3)

£100-150

283 284 283

Assam, Rudra Simha (1696-1714), octagonal Half-Rupees (3), 5.65, 5.64, 5.30g, undated, legends in three lines on both sides: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Pada/Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī/Rudra Si/mhasya, all different die types (RB. F25.3, F25.4, F25.5; KM. 38), very fine (3)

£80-100

Half-Rupees of this ruler are scarce compared with full Rupees. 284

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Rupees (3), 11.25, 11.21, 11.13g, no queen, Sk. 1641, 1642, 1643, legends in four lines on each side: Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Padā/mbuja Madhuka/rasya, rev. Śrī Śrīmat/Svarga Deva Śi/va Simha Nrpasya/Śāke [date] lion at bottom running to right (RB. G9, G10.1, G11.1; KM. 51), very fine or better, scarce (3) The rupees from the first few years of the reign are all scarce.

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£120-180

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

285 285

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Rupees (3), 11.32, 11.30, 11.27g, no queen, Sk. 1644, 1645, 1646, legends as previous lot (RB. G12.2, G13.1, G14.1; KM. 51), very fine to extremely fine, scarce (3)

£80-100

286 286

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Half-Rupee, 5.60g, no queen, undated, legends in three lines on each side: Śrī Śrī/Śiva Pada/Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī/Śiva Si/mhasya; octagonal Quarter-Rupee, 2.78g, Sk. 1643, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Simha/Nrpasya, rev. Śāke/1643 (RB. G15.1, G17.1; KM. 49, 47), very fine and about very fine, the quarter rupees rare (2)

£120-180

The Quarter-Rupees of this period of the reign are rarely found. 287

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Rupees (4), Sk. 1646 (3), 1647, citing Queen Phuleśvari, legends in four lines on both sides, Śrī Śrī Ha/ra Gaurī Pada/Parāyanāyah/Śāke date, rev. Śrī Śrī Śiva/Simha Nrpa Mahi/sī Śrī Phulesva/rī Devyah, the last with slightly different legend arrangement (RB. H8.2, H8.3 (2), H10.1; KM. 61), very fine (4)

£150-200

288 288

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Half-Rupee, 5.66g, undated, citing Queen Phuleśvari, legends in three lines Śrī Śi/va Simha/Nrpa/Mahasī rev. Śrī Phule/śvarī De/vyāh, Quarter-Rupee, 2.84g, Śrī Ma/hisī Phu/leśvarī, rev. Devyāh/Śāke/1646 (RB. H14.1, 16.1; KM. 56, 59), very fine, the second coin very rare (2) 75

£100-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

289

289 (x1.5) 289

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal gold Mohur, 11.36g, Sk. 1650, citing Queen Pramatheśvarī, legends in four lines, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Pada Pa/rāyanāyah/Śāke 1650, lion below, running right, rev. Śrī Śrī Śiva/Simha Nrpa Mahi/sī Śrī Pramatheśva/rī Devyāh (RB. I1.1; KM. 79), very fine, very rare

£2,000-2,500

Gold coins are known from all periods of Śiva Simha’s reign but in each case only from one or two examples, so that individual dates are all very rare. It is reported that Śiva Simha was heavily influenced by the Brahmins and astrologers at his court and was led to believe that his reign would be short. Therefore, in AD 1722 (Sk. 1644) he declared his queen, Phuleśvari to be ruler in his place. In AD 1726 (Sk. 1648), Queen Phuleśvari changed her name to Pramatheśvari, another name for Parvati, the consort of Śiva. Coins were struck with the new name from that year, though, oddly, there are a couple of years when coins were struck in either name.

290 290

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), square Rupee, 11.24g, Gargaon mint, Sk. 1651, regnal year 15, citing Queen Pramatheśvari, Persian script, Shāh/Sīva Singh/sikkah/zad chū mahr/bahm begam pramathīsarī/shah, rev. maimanat mānūs/sanah 15 jalūs/zarb gargāon 1651, lion to left of date (RB. I14.2; KM. 75), good very fine, rare

£400-600

The striking of some round and square Rupees with legends in Persian script suggests some Mughal influence at court. A similar coin sold in the previous Rhodes auction for £680 (lot 333) 291

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Rupees (6), Sk. 1649, 1650, 1651 (2), 1652, 1653, citing Queen Pramatheśvari, legends in four lines on each side, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Pada Pa/rāyanāyah/Śāke [date], lion at bottom running to right, rev. Śrī Śrī Śiva/Simha Nrpa Mahi/sī Śrī Pramatheśva/rī Devyāh (RB. I6.2, I7.2, I.8.1, 8.3, I9.1, I10.2; KM. 73), very fine (6)

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£150-180

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

292 292

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Half-Rupee, 5.71g, undated, citing Queen Pramatheśvari, Śrī Śrī Śi/va Simha Nrpa/Mahisī, rev. Śrī Prama/theśvarī/Devyāh; octagonal Quarter-Rupee, 2.82g, undated, citing Queen Pramatheśvari, Śrī Śi/va Simha/Nrpa, rev. Jāya Śrī/Pramathe/śvasyah (RB. I.11, I.12; KM. 69, 71), very fine and good very fine, the Quarter-Rupee scarce (2)

£100-120

293 293

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Rupee, 11.32g, Assamese script, Sk. 1654, year 18, no queen cited, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Padā/mbuja Madhu/karasya, lion running to right below, rev. Śrī Śrīma/t Svarga Deva Śi/va Simha Nrpasya/Śāke 1654/18, QuarterRupee, 5.49g, year 18, similar to Rupee but legends Śrī Śrī/Śiva Pada/Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Śi/va Simha Nrpa/sya Śake/18 (RB. J1.1, 2.1; KM. 81, 83), good very fine and very fine (2)

£80-100

There was a single year issue without the name of any queen. From this issue onwards the regnal year was included on all coins of this reign.

294 294

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal gold Mohur, 11.32g, Sk. 1655, year 19, citing Queen Ambika, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Pada/Parāyanānam/Śāke 1655/19, rev. Śrī Śrī Śiva/Simha Nrpa Tadva/llabha Śrīmad Ambi/kā Devīnām, lion below, running right (RB. K2.1; KM. 98), very fine, very rare

£1,000-1,500

Ambika was the sister of Phuleśvari/Pramateśvari. PROVENANCE: Bought from Spink, 1980

295

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Rupees (4), Sk. 1654 year 19, 1655 year 19, 1656 year 20, 1657 year 21, citing Queen Ambika, legends as previous lot (RB. K6.2, 7.2, 9, K10; KM. 91), very fine to good very fine (4) 77

£100-130

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

296 296

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Rupees (3), Sk. 1658 year 22, 1658 year 23, 1659 year 24, citing Queen Ambika, legends as previous lot, position of lion varies (RB. K11.2, 15.1, 16.1; KM. 91, 93, 94), very fine (3)

£90-110

298 297 297

298

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Quarter-Rupees (2), 2.84g year 19, 2.85g, year 23, both citing Queen Ambika, Śrī Śrī Śi/va Simha Ma/hīpa, rev. Jāyā/Śrīmad Ambi/kānām/[date] (RB. K20.1, K22.1; KM. 85), very fine to good very fine, this denomination rare (2)

£70-90

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Quarter-Rupee, 2.80g, year 24, citing Queen Ambika, legends as previous lot but no deer by date (RB. K-; cf. KM. 86), about very fine, very rare

£60-80

Rhodes did not record an example of this date without a deer.

299 299

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Rupee, 11.22g, Sk.1660 year 24, without queen, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Padā/mbuja Madhuka/rasya, rev. Śrī Śrīma/t Svarga Deva Śi/va Simha Nrpasya/Śāke 1660/24; lion left next to regnal year, octagonal Half-Rupee, 5.63g, year 25, without queen, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Pada/Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Śi/va Simhasya/25, Quarter-Rupee, 2.76g, Sk.1660 year 25, without queen, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Simha/Nrpasya, rev. Śāke/1660/25 (RB. L4.2, 9.1, 11.1; KM. 100, 102, 104), very fine to good very fine, the Half and Quarter-Rupee rare (3) WWW.SPINK.COM

£120-150

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

300 300

301

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Rupees (3), Sk. 1664 year 29, 1665 year 29, 1665 year 30, citing Queen Sarvveśvari, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Pada/Parāyanānam/Śāke/[year], lion running to left, below, rev. Śrī Śrī Śiva/Simha Nrpa Tadva/llabha Śrī Sarvve/śvarī Devīnām/[regnal year] (RB. M11.1, 12.1, 13.1; KM. 112), very fine (3)

£80-100

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Rupees (3), Sk. 1665 year 31, 1666 year 30, 1666 year 31, citing Queen Sarvveśvari, legends as previous lot (RB., M14.1, 15.1, 16.1; KM. 112), very fine (3)

£80-100

302 302

303

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Half-Rupees (4), years 27, 28, 29, 31, citing Queen Sarvveśvari, Śrī Śrī Śi/va Simha Na/reśvara, rev. Tadvalla/bha Śrī Sarvve/śvarī Devīnām/regnal year (RB. M19.1, 20.1, 21.4, M23.2; KM. 110), very fine (4)

£100-150

Assam, Śiva Simha (1714-44), octagonal Quarter-Rupees (5), years 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, citing Queen Sarvveśvari, Śrī Śrī Śi/va Simha Ma/hīpa, rev. Tadvalla/bha Śrī Sarvve/śvarī,nām/[regnal year] (RB. M25.1, 26.1, 27.2, 29.1, 30.3; KM. 108), very fine or better (5)

£100-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

304 304

Assam, Pramatta Simha (1744-51), octagonal Rupees (4), Assamese script, Sk. 1667, 1668, 1669 (2), Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Charana/Kamala Madhu/karasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Pramatta/Simha Nrpasya/Śāke [date], lion below, running left (RB. N8, N9, N10.2, N10.4; KM. 122), very fine (4)

£80-100

Śiva Simha was succeeded by his brother, Pramatta Simha, whose initial coinage consisted of rupees in Ahom script (see first Rhodes auction lot 345). Thereafter, the coinage reverted to the Assamese-script type exemplified by the earlier coinage of Rudra Simha, without citing any queen. In fact, from here on, there is no further mention of any queen on the coinage. 305

Assam, Pramatta Simha (1744-51), octagonal Rupees (4), Sk. 1669, 1670, 1672, 1673, legends as previous lot (RB. N10.5, N11.1, N12.2, N13.2, N14.2; KM. 122), very fine (4)

£80-100

308 306 306

307

308

307

Assam, Pramatta Simha (1744-51), octagonal Half-Rupees (3), 5.66g, 5.63g, 5.45g, undated, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Pada/Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Pra/matta Simha/Nrpasya (RB. N15; KM. 120), very fine, scarce (3)

£60-80

Assam, Pramatta Simha (1744-51), octagonal Quarter-Rupees (4), Sk. 1667, 1668, 1672, 1673, Śrī Śrī Pra/matta Simha/Nrpasya, rev. Śāke/[date] (RB. N16.1, 17.1, 21.1, 22; KM. 118), the last with evidence of mounting, very fine, scarce to rare (4)

£80-100

Assam, Pramatta Simha (1744-51), old jewellery imitataion of an octagonal gold Mohur, 5.65g, undated, Assamese script, Śrī Śrī/Śiva Pada/Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Pra/matta Simha/Nrpasya, lion below, running left (RB. item 59, p.123), poorly engraved, very fine

£150-200

Rhodes notes that this coin was struck using the same dies used for making the ‘Countrymade’ Half-Rupees (see below). He notes a die duplicate in the Botham Collection in the Fitzwilliam Museum, and remarks on the rarity of these coins in gold.

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

309 309

Assam, Pramatta Simha (1744-51), octagonal country-made Rupee, 11g, Sk.1668, Half-Rupee, 5.81g, undated, Quarter-Rupee, 2.61g, undated, Rajeśvara Simha (17511769), country-made Rupee, 11.14g, Sk. 1690 (RB. items 12 14-16, 17, 20b, p.117-18), very fine to extremely fine (4)

£60-80

Rhodes defines ‘Country-made’ forgeries as those that were not made at the official mint and were intended to supplement official coins. Most were manufactured by private entrepreneurs with the intention of passing them at the local market. Some are contemporaneous with the official issues, some, such as the Half-Rupee offered here, may have been made as late as the 18th or 19th century.

311

310

310 (x1.5) 310

311 (x1.5)

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal gold Mohur, 11.29g, Sk. 1678, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Charana Ka/mala Makaranda/Madhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Rājeśva/ra Simha Nrpasya/Śāke 1678, lion below, running left (RB. O5.1; KM. 142), very fine, rare

£1,000-1,200

Rajeśvara Simha was a son of Rudra Simha. During his reign, he made some one-off innovations to the coinage, together with the introduction of small denominations in both silver and gold coins. 311

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal gold Mohur, 11.20g, Sk. 1689, legends as previous lot (RB. O12.1; KM. 142), mount removed from top otherwise attractive very fine, rare

£1,000-1,200

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

312

313

314

315

313

315

314

315 (x1.5)

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal gold Quarter-Mohur, 2.80g, Sk. 1674, Śrī Śrī Rā/jeśvara Simha/Nrpasya, rev. Śāke 1674 (RB. O16.1; KM. 139), attractive very fine, rare

£300-400

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal gold Quarter-Mohur, 2.84g, Sk. 1681, Śrī Śrī Rā/jeśvara Simha/Nrpasya, rev. Śāke 1681 (RB. O23.1; KM. 139), appealing very fine/good very fine, rare

£300-400

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal gold Quarter-Mohur, 2.81g, Sk. 1688, Śrī Śrī Rā/jeśvara Simha/Nrpasya, rev. Śāke 1688 (RB. O30.1; KM. 139), reverse poorly executed, good fine, rare

£150-250

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal gold ⅛-Mohur, 1.41g, undated, Śrī Śrī Rā/jeśvara, rev. Simha Nr/pasya (RB. O33.1; KM. 137), very fine, rare

£200-250

316

316 (x1.5) 316

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal gold Mohur, 11.18g, Sk. 1685, Persian script, Srī rājesvar singh sultān ‘ālam panāh zad īn sikkah chū zaq ze mihr māh, rev. zarb rangpūr sanah 1685 jalūs maimanat mānūs (Sri Rajesvara Simha, Sultan, refuge of the world, stuck this coin truly like the sun and moon) (RB. O86.1; KM. 162), very fine with some red adhesions, extremely rare

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£3,000-4,000

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

317 317

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), old jewellery imitations of octagonal gold QuarterMohurs (2), 2.80, 2.78g, Sk. 1678, Śrī Śrī Rā/jeśvara Simha/Nrpasya, rev. Śāke 1678 (RB. item 60, p.123), very fine or better (2)

£300-400

The Quarter-Mohurs of this type of jewellers imitation are always dated Sk.1678. 318

Assam, gold jewellery imitations of 1⁄16-Mohurs of Rajeśvara Simha (6), 0.6-0.7g, imitative gold Eighth-Mohur, 1.35g (RB. items 60-64, p.123) very fine, two with rings for suspension (7)

£80-100

319 319

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (Siu-rem-pha) (1751-69), octagonal Rupee, 11.32g, Sk. 1674, Ahom legends, Kao boi/Phā Leng-don/heu chiu, lion running left below, rev. Chao Siu/rem-phā pin-/khun lāk-ni/Rāi-si-ngā, (RB. O2.1; KM. 167), very fine, extremely rare

£800-1,000

Like his brother, Pramatta Simha, Rajeśvara Simha stuck coins with an Ahom legend for his coronation. These name the Ahom deity Phā Lengdon and are very scarce.

320 320

321

322

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal Rupees (4), Sk. 1674, 1675, 1677, 1678, Assamese script, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Charana Ka/mala Makaranda/ Madhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Rājeśva/ra Simha Nrpasya/Śāke [date], winged lion running left below (RB. O36.2, 37, 39.1, 40.1; KM. 134), very fine (4)

£100-150

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal Rupees (5), Assamese script, Sk. 1680, 1681, 1682, 1683, 1684, legends as previous lot (RB. O42.3, 43.1, 44.1, 45.2, O46.2; KM. 134), generally very fine (5)

£100-150

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal Rupees (5), Assamese script, Sk. 1687 lion to left (2), 1688, 1689, 1690 lion to left, legends as previous lot (RB. O49.1, 49.2, 51.1, 52.1, 53.2; KM. 134), generally very fine (5)

£100-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

323 323

324

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal Half-Rupees (6), undated, various die varieties, Śrī Śrī Śi/va Pada Parā/yanasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Rā/jeśvara Simha/Nrpasya (RB. O55; KM. 133), very fine (6)

£60-80

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal Quarter-Rupees (5), Assamese script, Sk. 1674, 1675, 1676, 1677, 1678, Śrī Śrī Rā/jeśvara Sim/ha Nrpasya, rev. Śāke/[date], some with slightly different text arrangements, three coins with a crescent and dot above the first line of the reverse (RB. O57.2, 58.1, 59.2, 60.2, O62.2; KM. 132), very fine, scarce (5)

£80-100

325

325 (x1.5) 325

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), square Quarter-Rupee, 2.83g, Sk.1677, Assamese script, Śrī Śrī Rā/jeśvara Sim/ha Nrpasya, rev. Śāke/1677 (RB. O61.1; KM. -), edge knock at top of reverse, very fine, extremely rare

£400-600

The Half-Rupee of this type sold at the previous Rhodes auction for £1300 (lot 361) 326

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal Quarter-Rupees (5), Assamese script, Sk. 1682, 1683, 1685, 1686, 1687, legends as previous lot (RB. O67.1, 68.1, 70.2, 71.1, 72.1; KM. 132), very fine, scarce (5)

£80-100

327 327

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal Quarter-Rupees (6), Assamese script, Sk. 1687, 1688, 1689 (3 different types), 1690, legends as previous lot, with simha on the obverse either all on the second line or split between the second and third line (RB. O72.1, 73.1, 74.1, 74.2, 74.3, 76.1; KM. 132), very fine, scarce (6)

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£80-100

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

328 328

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal ⅛-Rupees (4), undated, Śrī Śrī Rā/jeśvara, rev. Simha Nr/pasya or Simha/Nrpasya; octagonal one-sixteenth rupee, undated, Śrī Rā/jeśvara; rev. Simha/Nrpasya (RB. O77.1, O78.1, O80.1; KM. 130, 131, A132), very fine (5)

£80-100

329 329

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal Rupee, 11.30g, Sk. 1675, Nagari script, Śrī Śrī Mahe/śvarī Charana Ka/mala Makaranda Ma/dhukarasya, lion running to left below, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Rājeśva/ra Simha Nrpasya/Śāke 1675 (RB. O82.1; KM. 145), reverse with some staining on edge, good very fine, scarce

330 330

331

£100-120

331

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal Rupee, 11.21g, Sk. 1675, Nagari script, as previous coin (RB. O82.1; KM. 145), good very fine, scarce

£100-120

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), octagonal Rupee, 11.29g, Sk.1685, Persian script, īn sikkah zad chū zaq ze mihr māh, srī rājesvara singh sultān ‘ālam panāh; (Sri Rajesvara Simha, refuge of the world, struck this coin truly like the sun and the moon), rev. zarb rangpūr sanah 1685 jalūs maimanat mānūs, small winged lion running to right at bottom (RB. O89.1; KM. 156), dark cabinet toning, attractive very fine, very rare

£400-500

332 332

Assam, Rajeśvara Simha (1751-69), square Quarter-Rupee, 2.78g, undated, Persian script, srī rājesvara singh, rev. bād shāh ghāzī, within beaded border (RB. O90.2; KM. 153), struck from crudely engraved dies as is common for these types, good very fine, rare

£150-200

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

333

333 (x2)

333

Assam, Ramakanta Simha (1769), nine-sided gold 1½-Mohur, 17.09g, Sk.1691, Śrī Śrī Yasta/bhuja Gosā/ni Devatā/ra Sevaka rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Ramākā/nta Simha Nrpasya/Śāke 1691, winged lion below right (RB. P1.1; N.G. Rhodes, ‘A gold coin of Ramakanta Simha,’ Numismatic Digest 23-24 (1999-2000), pp. 87-9), light surface deposits, good extremely fine, virtually as struck and exceptionally rare After the death of Rajeśvara Simha there was a succession dispute between those supporting Rudra Simha’s youngest son, Lakshmi Simha, and those supporting Rajeśvara’s son. The Borbarua, one of the five councillors of state, held power during this period. He caused great offence to the Moamaria Gosain, a caste of Assamese Brahmins who took their revenge by rebelling and capturing the Ahom capital. Ramakanta Simha was installed as king by them. His coins are exceedingly rare as the Moamaria rebellion was soon quelled and, in 1770, Lakshmi Simha took possession of the throne. This particular example is unusual in several respects: it has nine sides, rather than eight, it carries a unique invocation to Astabhujadeva, who was Ramakanta’s guru, and it’s weight suggests it is a 1½-Mohur denomination. Rhodes comments that all eleven known coins of this type appeared on the market in 2001 and that there is an error in the first line of their obverse legends, written Yastabhua... instead of Astabhuja... This error had been adjusted by the time the single known 1½-Rupee coin was struck from the same dies.

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£4,000-6,000

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

335

334 334

335

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (Siu-nyeo-pha) (1770-80), octagonal gold Half-Mohur, 5.67g, undated, Śrī Śrī Ha/ra Gaurī Pa/da Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī La/ksmī Simha/Narendrasya (RB. Q9.1; KM. 187), very fine, rare

£700-1,000

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (1770-80), octagonal gold Quarter-Mohur, 2.84g, Sk. 1692, Śrī Śrī La/ksmī Simha/Nrpasya, rev. Śāke/1692 (RB. Q13.1; KM. 185), good very fine, rare

£400-600

336 336 (x1.5) 336

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (1770-80), octagonal gold ⅛-Mohur, 1.44g, undated, Śrī Śrī La/ksmī, rev. Simha/Nrpasya, gold Sixteenth-Mohur, 0.69g, legends as on ⅛-Mohur (RB. Q21.1, 22.1; KM. 183, 184), the first with reverse abrasion, otherwise both very fine and rare (2)

£400-600

337

339 337

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (1770-80), octagonal Rupee, 11.33g, Sk. 1692, Assamese script, with invocation to Vishnu and Śiva, Śrī Śrī Ha/ri Hara Parama/Pada Padma Pa/rāyanasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Laksmī/Simha Nrpasya/Śāke 1692, lion running right, below (RB. Q23.2; KM. 181), light surface deposits, good very fine, scarce

£70-90

In his first year, apart from the very rare Ahom-legend coins, Lakshmi Simha issued two types of Assamese-legend coins, this one with its Vaishnava invocations and the usual Śivaite type with its invocation to Hara and Gauri. The former may have been issued as an attempt to appease the Moamarias. 338

339

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (1770-80), octagonal Rupees (4), Assamese script, Sk. 1692, 1693, 1694, 1695, with invocation to Śiva and Parvati, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Charanāra/vinda Makaranda/Madhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Laksmī/Simha Nrpasya/Śāke date, lion running right, below (RB. Q24, 26, 27, 28; KM. 182), very fine (4)

£80-100

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (1770-80), octagonal Rupees (4), as previous lot, Sk. 1696 (2) (die variants), 1697, 1698 (RB. Q29.2, 29.3, 30.2, 31; KM. 182), very fine (4)

£80-100

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

340 340

341

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (1770-80), octagonal Rupee, 11.33g, Sk. 1700 over 1699, type and legend as previous lot but rare date (RB. Q33.1 (plate coin); KM. 182), very fine

£70-90

The Rupees of the last years of Lakshmi Simha’s reign are surprisingly rare, especially those of Sk. 1701 (see next lot). When writing their book, RB had not come across any rupee dated Sk. 1702, although Quarter-Rupees of that date are quite common. 341

342

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (1770-80), octagonal Rupee, 11.44g, Sk. 1701, type and legend as previous lot, rare date (RB. Q34.1 (plate coin); KM. 182), very fine

£70-90

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (1770-80), octagonal Half-Rupees (7), undated, with invocation to Śiva and Parvati, Śrī Śrī Ha/ra Gaurī Pa/da Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī La/ksmī Simha Na/rendrasya, with some variation in the layout of the legends on either side, Quarter-Rupee, Sk.1692 (RB. Q36, 37, 38.1, 39.2, 40.1, 43.1, 47.3; KM. 176, 178,179, 180), very fine (8)

£80-100

343

343 (x1.5) 343

344

345

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (1770-80), square Quarter-Rupee, 2.83g, Sk. 1692, Assamese script, Śrī Śrī La/ksmī Sim/ha Nrpasya, rev. Śake/1692 (RB. Q45.1; KM. -), choice very fine, very rare

£400-600

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (1770-80), octagonal Quarter-Rupees (6), Sk. 1689, 1694, 1695(2), 1700, 1702, Śrī Śrī La/ksmī Simha/Nrpasya, rev. Śake/[date], ⅛-Rupees (3), undated, Śrī Śrī La/ksmī, rev. Simha/Nrpasya, Sixteenth-Rupees (2), undated, similar legend (RB. Q49.2, 50.1, 55, 52.1, 59, 60.1; KM. 174, 175, 176), very fine or better (11)

£80-100

Assam, Lakshmi Simha (1770-80), octagonal country-made Rupees (3), Sk. 1693, 1695, 169-, Quarter-Rupees (8), Sk.1690, 1693 (3), 1695, fantasy date (2), using HalfRupee dies (no date) (1), ⅛-Rupees (2), undated, with the usual hara Gaurī legends but lighter in weight than the official coins with crudely engraved legends (RB. items 25, 26, 33, 35, 36, pp.119-20), very fine (13)

£80-100

These ‘country-made’ coins appear to be contemporary imitations of the official coins. They are usually lighter in weight than the official coins and their engraving varies quite a lot. They are apparently frequently found in hoards alongside the officially made coins. Such coins of Lakshmi Simha are illustrated and described on pages 119-120 of RB.

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

346 346

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal gold Mohur, 11.25g, Sk. 1703, Assamese script, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Charanāra/vinda Makaranda/Madhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Gaurīnā/tha Simha Nrpasya/Śāke 1703, lion below, running left (RB. R2.1 var; KM. 229), small striking weakness in centre, very fine, rare

£1,000-1,500

Gaurinatha Simha’s reign was full of problems. It was not long before the Moamarias again attempted to rebel. This was unsuccessful and led to persecution of the Vaisnavas. This, in turn, led to a serious revolt in 1789 (Sk. 1709), resulting in Gaurinatha fleeing from Rangpur to Guwahati. The rebels extended their control of upper Assam and, by 1791 (Sk. 1713), had installed their own king, Bharatha Simha, and began to strike coins in his name. Gaurinatha, confined to the western end of his kingdom and about to lose control of Guwahati, appealed to the British for help. This was too good an opportunity for the British to ignore, so they sent six companies of sepoys under Capt. Welsh, recaptured Guwahati, and a year later managed to reinstall Gaurinatha on his throne in Rangpur.

347

349 347

348

349

350

348

350

351

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal gold Mohur, 11.29g, Sk. 1706, year 5, Assamese script, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Charana/Kamala Madhu/karasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Gaurīnā/tha Simha Nrpasya/Śāke 1706, lion left at bottom with figure 5 to the right (RB. R5.1;KM. 230), good very fine, rare

£1,000-1,500

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal gold Mohur, 11.21g, Sk. 1716, Assamese script, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Charana Ka/mala Makaranda/Madhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Gaurīnā/tha Simha Nrpasya/Śāke 1716, lion below, running left, (RB. R13.1; KM. 231), good very fine, rare

£1,000-1,500

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal gold Half-Mohur, 5.70g, undated, Assamese script, Śrī Śrī Gau/rīnātha Si/mha Nrpasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Ha/ra Gaurī Pa/da Parasya (RB. R16.1; KM. 228), mount removed from bottom of reverse, otherwise about very fine, rare

£350-450

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal gold Quarter Mohur, 2.80g, Sk. 1709, year 8, Assamese script, Śrī Śrī Gau/rīnātha Simha/Nrpasya, rev. Śāke 1709, figure 8 below (RB. R22.1; KM. 227), appealing, good very fine, rare

£400-600

During the period Sk. 1710 to 1715, when Gaurinatha Simha was either in Guwahati or seeking, with British help, to regain his throne, far fewer coins seem to have been struck, especially rupees, some dates of which are very rare. 351

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal gold Quarter-Mohur, 2.83g, Sk. 1716, no regnal year, Assamese script, Śrī Śrī Gau/rīnātha Si/mha Nrpasya, rev. Śāke 1716 (RB. R25.1; KM. 227), very fine, rare 89

£350-500

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

352

352 (x1.5) 352

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal gold ⅛-Mohur, 1.38g, undated, Assamese script, Śrī Śrī Gau/rīnātha, rev. Simha Nr/pasya (RB. R27.1; KM. 226 var), good very fine, rare

£250-350

353 353

354

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupees (4), Sk. 1703, lion to right (2), Sk. 1705, lion to left, Sk. 1706 year 5, lion to left, Assamese legend varies (RB. R31, 34.1, 36; KM. 214, 215, 216), very fine (4)

£100-120

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupees (4), Sk. 1703, lion right, 1705, lion left, 1706 year 5, lion right on obverse, regnal year under date, Sk. 1706 year 5, lion left under date, regnal year to the right, Assamese legend varies (RB. R31, 34, 37.1, 38.1, R40; KM. 214, 215, -, 217), very fine to good very fine (4)

£100-120

355 355

356

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupees (4), Sk. 1706, year 5, 1707, year 6, 1708, year 7, 1709, year 8, Assam legend varies (RB. R38.3, 39, 40, 41; KM. 217, 218), very fine or better (4)

£100-120

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupees (5), Sk. 1708, year 7 (5), die varieties (RB. R40; KM. 218), very fine or better (5)

£100-120

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

357 357

358

359

358

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupee, 11.31g, Sk. 1712, year 11, similar to previous lots, but with regnal year to the right of the lion (RB. R44.1; KM. 218), toned, good very fine, rare date

£80-100

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupee, 11.11g, Sk. 1713 year 12, similar to previous lots, but with regnal year to the left of the lion (RB. R47.3; KM. 218), about very fine, rare date

£60-80

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupees (6), Sk. 1716, die variants, legends as previous lots (RB. R50.1 (3), 51.1, 52.1, 52.4; KM. 218), generally very fine (6)

£80-100

The year Sk. 1716 saw a considerable increase in the production of coinage, with many different dies being used, a goodly number of which are listed separately in RB. It is, however, not always easy or possible to identify coins according to the illustrations and descriptions. 360

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupees (6), Sk. 1716, die variants, legends as previous lots (RB. R52. 52.2, 54.2 55.2, 55; KM. 218, 219), about very fine or better (6)

£80-100

362

361 363 361

362

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupees (2), 11.27, 11.36g, Sk. 1716, the second with ‘ha’ at the bottom of the reverse to the left of the lion, legends otherwise as previous lots (RB. 56.2; KM. 218, 221), very fine and about very fine, rare (2)

£80-100

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupee, 11.28g, Sk. 1716 with ‘di’ at the bottom of the reverse to the left of the lion, legends otherwise as previous lots (RB. 58.1; KM. 220), toned about very fine, rare

£80-100

RB believe that ‘di’ indicates that such coins were struck at a mint at the town of Dichoi. The letter occurs on coins of both Sk. 1716 and 1717. 363

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupee, 11.50g, Sk. 1716, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Charana ka/mala Makaranda/Madhukarasya, ‘68’ below legend, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Gaurīnā/tha Simha Nrpasya/Śake 1716 (RB. R59.1; KM. 223), very fine, rare The significance of the number ‘68’ on this coin is not known. 91

£60-80

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

364 364

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupees (3), Sk. 1717, the first with ‘16’ to right of lion, the last with ‘di’ to left of lion, legends as previous lots (RB. R60, 62.1, 63.1; KM. 218, 220), generally about very fine, scarce (3)

366

365 365

366

367

368

369

£80-100

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Rupees (2), 11.13, 11.23g, Sk. 1717, one with ‘di’ at the bottom of the reverse, legends otherwise as previous lots (RB. R60, R63.1; KM. 218, 220), very fine, second coin rare (2)

£40-60

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Half-Rupees (6), undated naming Simha (2), undated with Sim/ha, year 5, undated with Si/mha, year 6, undated with Si/mha, year 7 (2), Śrī Śrī Ha/ra Gaurī Pa/da Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Gau/rīnātha Simha/(or Sim/ha, Si/mha) Nrpasya with year, where present, at the bottom of the reverse (RB. R64.1, 66.2, 67, 69, 70; KM. 204, 205), very fine or better (6)

£60-80

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Half-Rupees (7), year 1, year 8, year 14, year 16, ‘na’ at bottom of obverse (3), legends as previous lot, Sim/ha or Si/mha (RB. R71.1, 74.1, 76.1, 77.1, 79.1, 81.1; KM. 205, 207, 210, 213), very fine (7)

£50-60

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Half-Rupees (7), ‘na,’ ‘ha’ and ‘di’ at bottom of obverse, circle and bead in same position (2), no symbol (1), legends as previous lot, Sim/ha or Si/mha (RB. R 78.1, 78 var, 80.1, 82.1, 86.1, 87; KM. 204, 208, 209, 211), very fine (7)

£50-60

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Half-Rupees (8), ‘1,’ at bottom of obverse, ‘di’ at bottom of obverse (4), cross or letter in same position, undated (2), one with no line over tha, legends as previous lot, Sim/ha or Si/mha (RB. R77.1, 78.1, 87, 87.8, - ; KM. 204, 207, 208), very fine (8)

£60-80

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

370 370

371

372

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Quarter-Rupees (6), Sk. 1703, 1704, 1705, 1706 year 5, 1707 year 6, 1708, obv. Śri Śri Gau/rinatha Si/mha (or Simha) Nripasya, rev. Śake date, with or without regnal year below (RB. R91.1, 92.1, 93.1, 95, 96, 97; KM. 198), very fine to good very fine (6)

£40-60

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Quarter-Rupees (11), Sk. 1703, 1704, 1705, 1706 year 5, 1707 year 6, 1708 (2) one coin year 7, 1709 (2), the first with digit ‘7’ reversed, the second year 8, 1711, 1712 year 11, Śrī Śrī Gau/rīnātha Si/mha (or Simha) Nrpasya, rev. Śake date, with or without regnal year below, including several plate coins from RB (RB. R91.1, 92.1, 93.1, 95.1, 96.1, 97.1, 100.1, 103.1, 105.2, 108.2; KM. 198), very fine or better (11)

£80-100

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal Quarter-Rupees (12), Sk. 1713, 1716 (7), various die varieties, one with year 1 below date, 1717 (4), die varieties including examples with ‘di’ and year 16 below date, legends as previous lot, including several plate coins from RB (RB. R109.1, 112.1, 113.1, 115.1, 116.1, 116.2, 117.3, 118.1; KM. 198), very fine (12)

£80-100

373 374 373

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal ⅛-Rupees (2), undated, Śrī Śrī Gau/rīnātha, rev. Simha Nr/pasya or Nrpasya, octagonal 1⁄16-Rupees (5), undated, Śrī Gau/rīnātha, rev. Simha/Nrpasya; octagonal 1⁄32 Rupees (3), undated, Śrī/Gau, rev. rīnā/thasya (RB. R124.1, 126.1, 128.1, 132.1; KM. 190, 193, 196, 197), very fine, scarce (10)

£80-100

The striking of small one-thirtysecond rupees was an innovation introduced towards the end of Gaurinatha’s reign, when he was based at Dichoi. Their purpose was said to be for making small charitable donations as there was a shortage of cowries. 374

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), ‘country-made’ octagonal Rupee, 11.12g, dated “Śake 12”, octagonal ‘country-made’ Half-Rupees (3), all undated, usual legends but rather crudely engraved, very fine (4)

£30-50

See RB pages 120-121, item 44 for the Rupee, and page 121, items 45-50 for the Half-Rupee type. They are all rather crudely engraved, the Rupee also with a meaningless Śaka date. 375

Assam, Gaurinatha Simha (1780-95), octagonal country-made Half-Rupees (11), similar legends to previous lots but crudely engraved often with lighter weights (RB. items 45-50, p.121), very fine (11) 93

£80-100

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

376

376 (x1.5) 376

Assam, Bharatha Simha (1789-94, 1796-97), octagonal gold Half-Mohur, 5.79g, undated, Śrī Śrī Kri/shna Pada Pa/rasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Bha/ratha Simha/Nrpasya (RB. W-; KM. -), very fine, extremely rare gold issue of the Moamarias

£1,000-1,500

The Moamarias installed Bharatha Simha as king in Rangpur, while Gaurinatha Simha was in exile in Guwahati. Coins were struck in his name for three years during that exile and then again for a couple of years after Gaurinatha’s death. The mintplace is not known for sure but it was probably Rangpur. On his coins, Bharatha claims descent from Bhagadatta, a legendary king of Assam and also invokes Krishna, in line with his strong Vaisnava faith.

377

379 377

378

379

380

381

382

378

380

381

Assam, Bharatha Simha (1789-94, 1796-97), octagonal Rupee, 11.36g, Sk. 1714, Śrī Śrī Krishna/Charanāravinda Ma/karanda Pramatta/Madhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Bhagadatta/Kulodbhava Śrī Bha/ratha Simha Nrpasya/Śake 1714, winged lion running left, below (RB. W7.2; KM. 405), very fine, scarce

£100-120

Assam, Bharatha Simha (1789-94, 1796-97), octagonal Rupee, 11.32g, Sk. 1715, Śrī Śrī Krishna/Charanāravinda/Makaranda Pramatta Ma/dhukarasya, rev. Śrī Bhagadatta/Kulodbhava Śrī Bha/ratha Simha Nrpasya/Śake 1715, winged lion running right, below (RB. W8; KM. 405), toned very fine, scarce

£80-100

Assam, Bharatha Simha (1789-94, 1796-97), octagonal Rupee, 11.18g, Sk. 1715, as previous lot (RB. W8; KM. 405), toned very fine, scarce

£70-90

Assam, Bharatha Simha (1789-94, 1796-97), octagonal Rupee, 11.49g, Sk. 1718, as previous lot (RB. W9.1; KM. 405), very fine, scarce

£70-90

Assam, Bharatha Simha (1789-94, 1796-97), octagonal Rupee, 11.30g, Sk. 1719, as previous lot (RB. W10.1; KM. 405), good very fine, scarce

£80-100

Assam, Bharatha Simha (1789-94, 1796-97), octagonal Half-Rupees (2), 5.61, 4.94g, undated, Śrī Śrī Kri/shna Pada Par/āyanasya and Pa/rāyanasya; rev. Śrī Śrī Bha/ratha Simha Na/rendrasya (RB. W11, 12.1; KM. 404), good fine and good very fine, scarce (2)

£60-80

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

383 383

384

Assam, Bharatha Simha (1789-94, 1796-97), octagonal Quarter-Rupee, 2.90g, Sk. 1718, Śrī Śrī Bha/ratha Simha/Narendra, rev. Śake/171/8 (RB. W17.1; KM. 403), very fine, very rare

£60-80

The Quarter-Rupees of this ruler are much rarer than the Rupees and Half-Rupees. 384

385

Assam, Bharatha Simha (1789-94, 1796-97), octagonal Quarter-Rupee, 2.90g, Sk. 1719, legends as previous lot (RB. W18.1; KM. 403), very fine, very rare

£60-80

Assam, Bharatha Simha (1789-94, 1796-97), octagonal Eighth-Rupee, 0.96g, undated, Śrī Śrī/Bharatha, rev. Simha/Nrpasya (RB. W19; KM. 402), about very fine, very rare

£60-80

386

386 (x1.5) 386

Assam, Sarvvananda Simha (1793-95), in Matak, octagonal gold Half-Mohur, 5.56g, undated, Śrī Śrī/Krishna Madhu/karasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Sa/rvvānanda Si/mha Nrpasya (RB. X2.1; KM. 313), very fine, very rare

£600-800

When Bharatha Simha was expelled from Rangpur, another Moamaria rebel, Sarvvananda Simha, set himself up as Raja of Matak, with his capital at Bengmara. Hardly anything is known about him except that he struck coins during the years Sk. 1715-1717 and appears to have handed control of the rebellion back to Bharatha as soon as the latter started striking coins again.

387 387

Assam, Sarvvananda Simha (1793-95), in Matak, octagonal gold Quarter-Mohur, 2.90g, Sk. 1715, Śrī Śrī Sa/rvvā/nanda Si/mha Nrpasya, rev. Śāke/1715 (crude style as RB. X13.1; KM. 312 var), very fine, very rare

£400-500

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

388 388

389

Assam, Sarvvananda Simha (1793-95), in Matak, octagonal Rupees (2), 11.11, 11.20g, Sk. 1715, Śrī Śrī Krishna/Charana Kamala/Makaranda Ma/dhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Sarvvā/nanda Simha Nrpasya/Śake 1715, lion running to left at bottom (RB. X4, 4.4; KM. 307), very fine to good very fine, scarce (2)

£100-150

Assam, Sarvvananda Simha (1793-95), in Matak, octagonal Rupees (2), 11.23g, 11.25g, Sk. 1716, legends as previous lot but Sarvvāna/nda, lion running to right, the second with lion left (RB. X5, 6.3; KM. 308), very fine, scarce (2)

£100-150

390 390

Assam, Sarvvananda Simha (1793-95), in Matak, octagonal Rupee, 11.37g, Sk. 1717, obv. Śrī Śrī Krishna/Pāda Padma Dvanda/Makaranda Brnda/Madhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Sarvvāna/nda Simha Nrpasya/Śake 1717, lion running to left at bottom (RB. X8.2; KM. 309), toned very fine, scarce

391 391

392

£100-150

392

Assam, Sarvvananda Simha (1793-95), in Matak, octagonal Half-Rupees (2), 5.68, 5.85g, undated, different obverse legends, and slightly different reverse legends the first: Śrī Śrī Kri/shna Charana Ma/dhukarasy, rev. Śrī Śrī Sa/rvvānanda Si/mha Nrpasya, the second: Śrī Śrī Kri/shna Pada Pa/rāyanasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Sa/rvvānanda Si/mha Nrpasya (RB. X10, X11.1; KM. 304, 306), very fine to good very fine, scarce (2)

£80-100

Assam, Sarvvananda Simha (1793-95), in Matak, octagonal Half-Rupees (2), 5.69, 5.67g, undated, different obverse legends, and slightly different reverse legends, the first: Śrī Śrī Kri/shna Charana Ma/dhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Sa/rvvānanda Si/mha Nrpasya, the second: Śrī Śrī Kri/shna Pada Pa/rāyanasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Sarvvā/nanda Simha Na/rendrasya (RB. X.10, X12.2; KM. 303, 306), very fine, scarce (2)

£80-100

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

395

394 393 393

394

395 (x1.5)

Assam, Sarvvananda Simha (1793-95), in Matak, octagonal Quarter-Rupee, 2.94g, Sk. 1715, Śrī Śrī Sa/rvvānanda Si/mha Nrpasya, rev. Śake 1715, somewhat crude style, as is often the case with coins of this year, ⅛-Rupees (2), 1.18, 1.32g, undated, Śrī Śrī Sa/rvvānanda, rev. Simha Nr/pasya, 1⁄16-Rupee, 0.77g, undated, Śrī Sa/rvvānanda, rev. Simha/Nrpasya (RB. X13.1, 16, 18.1; KM. 300, 301, 302), very fine, all rare, the first and last coin very rare (4)

£150-180

Assam, Kamaleśvara Simha (1795-1810), octagonal Half-Rupee, 5.64g, undated, Śrī Śrī Ha/ra Gaurī Chara/na Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Ka/maleśvara Si/mha Nrpasya (RB. S6.1; KM. 237), very fine, very rare

£200-300

After the death of Gaurinatha Simha, one of his descendents, Kamaleśwara, was placed on the throne by the all-powerful Burha Gohain. The three Gohains were very important councillors of state, little inferior to the king in rank. Although Kamaleśwara began his reign in Sk. 1717 (AD 1795), no coins in his name are known until Sk. 1720 (AD 1798) and even these are all very rare. It seems as though hardly any coins were struck in Assam throughout the whole of Kamaleśwara’s reign, unless coins continued to be struck posthumously in the name of Gaurinatha Simha. 395

Assam, Kamaleśvara Simha (1795-1810), octagonal Eighth-Rupee, 1.40g, undated, Śrī Śrī Ka/lesva rev. ra/Simha/Nrpasya (RB. S8.1; KM. 235), attractively struck very fine, very rare

£150-200

396 396

Assam, Brajnatha Simha (1817/18 - 1819), octagonal Rupee, 11.25g, Sk. 1739, Śrī Śrī Rādhā/Krishna Charana Ka/mala Makaranda/Madhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Brajanā/tha Simha Nrpasya/Śake 1739, lion running left below (RB. T8; KM. 265), toned, good very fine, scarce When Kamaleśvara Simha died in 1810, his younger brother, Chandrakanta Simha, replaced him. No coins are known in his name during this, the first of his two reigns. In 1816, a disgraced minister, the Bar Phukan, invited the Burmese to invade Assam. This they did, promoted the Bar Phukan to the position of Chief Minister and after receiving a large indemnity, they returned home. The new Chief Minister made many enemies and was soon assassinated. Nor did he have any supporters, so the son of the late Burha Gohain, having taken refuge in Guwahati, was invited back as Chief Minister. This latter did not support Chandrakanta Simha, as he thought he was responsible for the recent travails that had beset the state; rather, he espoused the cause of Brajnatha Simha, a great-grandson of Rajeśvara Simha. Chandrakanta fled to Rangpur, and Brajnatha took his place. Interestingly, it is reported that the priests were not willing to formally install Brajnatha as king as he had a mutilated ear, it being an Ahom custom that the king should have no disfigurement. Instead they installed his young son, Purandara Simha, as king in his stead. Effectively it must have been Brajnatha who held all the power as coins are known in his name, while none are known in the name of his son. No coins of Brajnatha Simha are common; they vary from scarce to very rare. 97

£100-120

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

397 397

398

Assam, Brajnatha Simha (1817/18 - 1819), octagonal Rupee, 11.80g, Sk. 1739, legends as previous lot (RB. T8; KM. 265), toned good very fine, scarce

£100-120

Assam, Brajnatha Simha (1817/18 - 1819), octagonal Rupee, 11.27g, Sk. 1740, legends as previous lot (RB. T9.1; KM. 265), nick at top of reverse, very fine, very scarce date

£150-200

399 399

Assam, Brajnatha Simha (1817/18 - 1819), octagonal Half-Rupees (4), undated, Śrī Śrī Rā/dhā Krshna Pa/da Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Bra/janātha Si/mha Nrpasya, die variants (RB. T10; KM. 264), about very fine to extremely fine, scarce (4)

£60-80

400 400

401

Assam, Brajnatha Simha (1817/18 - 1819), octagonal Half-Rupee, 5.60g, undated, legend as previous lot, Quarter-Rupee, 2.48g, Sk. 1739, Śrī Śrī Bra/janātha Si/mha Nrpasya, rev. Śake 1739, Eighth-Rupee, 1.40g, undated, Śrī Śrī Bra/janātha, rev. Simha/Nrpasya, 1⁄16-Rupee, 0.68g Śrī Bra/janātha, rev. Simha/Nrpasya, 1⁄32-Rupee, 0.31g, Śrī Bra, rev. janāthasya (RB. T10, 12.1, 15.1, 16.1, 17.1; KM. 260, 261, 262, 263, 264), about very fine to extremely fine, all scarce (5)

£120-150

Assam, Brajnatha Simha (1817/18 - 1819), octagonal Half-Rupee, 5.75g, undated, Quarter-Rupee, 2.68g, Sk. 1740, Eighth-Rupee, 1.41g, undated, rev. Simha Nr/pasya, 1⁄16-Rupee, 0.73g, 1⁄32-Rupee, 0.29g, legends as previous lot unless mentioned otherwise (RB. T10, 13.1, 14, 16.1, 17.2; KM. 260, 261, 262, 263, 264), very fine or better, all scarce (5)

£120-150

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

402

402 (x1.5)

402

Assam, Chandrakanta Simha, (1819-21), octagonal gold Mohur, 11.21g, Sk. 1741, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Charanāra/vinda Makaranda/Madhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Chandrakā/nta Simha Nrpasya/Śāke 1741, lion running left below (RB. U1.1; KM. 257), edge has a fault between 4-5 o’clock that appears to be integral to the original flan, otherwise extremely fine and excessively rare

£2,000-2,500

In 1819, supporters of Chandrakanta, again sought help from the Burmese. The latter agreed to help them and successfully invaded Assam. This time they did not return home but stayed, having restored Chandrakanta to the throne. The king, however, was dissatisfied with being a Burmese puppet and fled to British territory from where he made a number of unsuccessful raids against the Burmese. When the Burmese failed to coax Chandrakanta back to Assam, they replaced him with an Ahom prince of uncertain ancestory, by name of Jogeśvara Simha.

405

403 404 403

404

405

Assam, Chandrakanta Simha (1819-21), octagonal Rupee, 11.29g, Sk. 1742, Śrī Śrī Hara/Gaurī Charana Ka/mala Madhu Makaranda/Madhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/Deva Śrī Chandrakā/nta Simha Nrpasya/Śake 1742, lion running left, below (RB. U9; KM. 251), toned good very fine, rare

£150-200

Assam, Chandrakanta Simha (1819-21), octagonal Half-Rupee, 5.60g, undated, Śrī Śrī Ha/ra Gaurī Pa/da Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Chandra/kānta Simha/Narendrasya, QuarterRupee, 2.76g, Sk. 1742, Śrī Śrī Chandra/kānta Simha/Narendrasya; rev. Śake/1742 (RB. U10, U12.2; KM. 248, 249), about very fine and about extremely fine (2)

£100-150

Assam, Chandrakanta Simha (1819-21), octagonal Sixteenth-Rupee, 0.7g, Śrī Cha/ndrakānta, rev. Simha Na/rendrasya, 1⁄32-Rupees (3), different varieties: Śrī Cha/ndr, rev. kānta/sya (RB. U14.1, 15.1, 15.3, 15.4; KM. 245, 246), one of the 1/32Rupees ex-mount, very fine, scarce to very scarce (4)

£100-150

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

406 406

Assam, Jogeśvara Simha (1821-24), octagonal Half-Rupee, 5.58g, undated, Śrī Śrī Ha/ra Gauri Pa/da Parasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Jo/geśvara Si/mha Nrpasya (RB. V4.1; KM. 276), about very fine, extremely rare

£300-400

Very few coins of Jogeśvara Simha are known.

407

407 (x1.5) 407

408

Assam, Jogeśvara Simha (1821-24), octagonal Eighth-Rupee, 1.38g, undated, Śrī Śrī Jo/geśvara rev. Simha/Nrpasya (RB. V6.1; KM. 274), good very fine, very rare

£250-300

Assam, base silver religious amulets (4): octagonal imitative Rupees of Gaurinatha Simha (3), circular Ramatanka (RB. items 69, 73, pp.124-5), together with a gilded Half-Rupee, ⅛-Rupees (3), these mounted and used for jewellery, very fine (8)

£30-40

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

GARHWAL Very little is known about the early history of Garhwal apart from a list of rulers and a few records of conquests. Fath Shah ascended the throne in 1684. It is known that he undertook successful military campaigns into Tibet, onto the plains, and into Kumaon. His luck ran out in 1709 when his capital, Srinagar, was captured by the Raja of Kumaon, and he had to withdraw to Dehra Dun for the rest of his reign. It appears that the first coins struck in the state were silver Timashas imitating first a Nisar of Aurangzeb of Shahjahanabad (cf. KM. 306.7, lot 409), and then a similar coin of Farrukhsiyar. These latter imitations started off being crudely engraved and became in due course barely recognisable in terms of their prototype. It is probable they began to be struck during the reign of Fath Shah, who was contemporary with the prototypes, and the Farrukhsiyar imitations probably continued to be struck during the reign of his successor, Pradip Shah.

409

409 (x1.5) 409

Garhwal, temp. Fath Shah (1686-1717), Timasha, 2.51g, imitating a Nisar of the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, of Shahjahanabad, dated AH 1096 year 31, nithar ‘alamgir bādshāh ghāzī, 31 at bottom, rev. zarb dar al-khilāfa shahjahānabad, 1096 at bottom (R. 2; KM. 1), has been mounted, very fine, of the utmost rarity, possibly the only known example

410 410

411

412

£200-250

411

Garhwal, temp. Fath Shah (1686-1717), Timasha, 2.62g, imitating a Nisar type of Farrukhsiyar of Shahjahanabad, dated AH 1125 year 2, farrukhsiyār bādshāh ghāzī, 2 at bottom, rev. blundered Persian legend, 1125 at bottom, together with another similar Timisha, 2.51g, cruder legends (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 3, 6; KM.2 (plate coin), 3), the first has been mounted, very fine, the second fine, extremely rare (2)

£100-150

Garhwal, temp. Fath Shah (1686-1717), Timashas (3), 2.59g, imitating a Nisar type of Farrukhsiyar of Shahjahanabad, legends as previous lot, with crudely engraved date AH1128 (2), undated (1) (KM.2, 3 for type), very fine or nearly so, scarce (3)

£100-150

Garhwal, temp. Fath Shah or Pradip Shah, Timashas (4), crude imitations of the Farrukhsiyar type with corrupted legends (KM. 3 for type), good fine to good very fine, some flatness, scarce (4)

£100-150

These imitations of the Farrukhsiyar prototype were struck in a number of varieties. The later crude types were probably also struck during the first part of Pradip Shah’s reign. 101

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

412 413

Garhwal, Pradip Shah (1717-72), Timashas (6), in the name of Shah ‘Alam II, Śrinagar, years ahd, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 (KM. 10), very fine or better, some flatness in places, as usual, scarce (6)

£100-150

413 414

Garhwal, temp. Pradip Shah (1717-72), Lallat Shah (1772-81), Timashas (6), in the name of Shah ‘Alam II, Śrinagar, years 8, 9 (retrograde), 11 (unclear), 12, 13, 15 (KM. 10), very fine or better, some flatness in places, as usual, scarce (6)

£100-150

414 Lallat Shah succeeded Pradip Shah in 1772 (AH 1186); he, in turn was succeeded by Jayakrit Shah in 1781 (AH 1196). In 1785, Jayakrit attacked Kumaon, where his brother, Parduman, was ruling. The latter’s army repulsed the attack; Jayakrit died during the retreat and the Kumaon troops took possession of Śrinagar. As a result, Parduman became ruler of both Kumaon and Garhwal and, in due course, took up residence in Śrinagar 415

416

Garhwal, temp. Lallat Shah (1772-81), Timashas (7), in the name of Shah ‘Alam II, AH 1181/VS 1830 (last digit unclear), 1182/1833, 1188/1133 or 4, 1189/1834, 1190 or 97/183-, 1191/184-, trident/1836 (KM. 20), very fine or better, some flatness as usual, rarely offered with such a variety of dates (7)

£80-120

Garhwal, temp. Lallat Shah (1772-81), Timashas (6), in the name of Shah ‘Alam II, AH 1188/VS 1831, 1191/1838, (1)192/1836, 1194/1838, 1197/—36, trident/1836 (KM. 20), very fine or better, some flatness as usual, rarely found with such a variety of dates (6)

£80-100

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

417 417

418

Garhwal, Gorkha occupation, Timashas (3), in the names of Shah ‘Alam II and Girvan Yuddha (1), undated, with a katar, Muhammad Akbar II and Girvan Yuddha (2), one dated ahd, the others undated, but with dagger or trident, all Śrinagar mint (RGV. 1379-80, 1387 (plate coin), 1391), very fine, some flatness as usual, scarce (3)

£50-70

The Gorkhas invaded Garhwal in 1791, having previously subdued Kumaon. They did not capture Śrinagar and were forced to return home at the news of a Chinese invasion of Nepal. They did, however, get a treaty agreed with Parduman for an annual tribute to be paid to them. Twelve years later, in 1803, they invaded again, this time successfully occupying Śrinagar without difficulty. Their twelve-year rule became infamous for its tyranny until Garhwal was annexed by the British. Timashas continued to be struck firstly in the names of Shah ‘Alam II and Girvan Yuddha, then Muhammad Akbar II and Girvan Yuddha, and then in the name of Giran Yuddha alone. 418

Garhwal, Gorkha occupation, Timashas (3), in the names of Muhammad Akbar II and Girvan Yuddha, all Śrinagar mint the first with Arabic date 65 (for VS 1865) on obverse and 66 on reverse, the second undated, the third a reverse mule (RGV 1383, others not listed, but see 1385 for an obverse mule), fine to very fine, usual weakness, scarce, especially the mule (3)

419 419

420

£60-80

420

Garhwal, Gorkha occupation, Timashas (3), in the names of Muhammad Akbar II and Girvan Yuddha, all Śrinagar mint, the first dated ahd, the second ‘65’, the last ‘66’ (RGV 1383, 1388, 1390), usual flatness, very fine (3)

£60-80

Garhwal, Gorkha occupation, Timashas (4), in the names of Muhammad Akbar II and Girvan Yuddha, all Śrinagar mint, Nagari dates, 67 (double-hilted sword), 68 (sword in beaded frame), 69 (2) (no sword), one with plain date, the other with date in beaded frame (RGV 1395, 1399, 1401, 1402; KM.36), very fine, usual flatness, very scarce (4)

£80-100

103

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2) 421

422

Garhwal, Gorkha occupation, Timashas (4), in the names of Muhammad Akbar II and Girvan Yuddha, all Śrinagar mint, Nagari dates, 67 (double-hilted sword), 68 (sword in beaded frame), 69, 70 (no sword), both with dates in beaded frame (RGV 1395, 1399, 1401, 1403; KM.36), very fine, usual flatness, very scarce (4)

£80-100

Garhwal, Pradip Shah (1717-72), Æ Tacas (2), 8.02, 7.83g, Śrinagar, year 13, Parduman Shah (1785-1803), Æ Taca, 6.74g, with date, possibly VS 1842 (4 retrograde), all Śrinagar mint (KM.C5, 25), fine to very fine, scarce (3)

£80-100

The early copper coins of Garhwal are very difficult to find. RGV quotes from two contemporary accounts: the first, written following a visit of 1796 mentions that copper mines existed in Garhwal to the north and north-east of Srinagar. Of the copper mined, half was given to the Raja, and the rest kept to cover mining costs. The second account of Captain F.V.Raper written in 1807, describes how ten Tacas equalled one Timasha.

423

Garhwal, Lallat Shah, (1772-81), Æ Tacas (2), VS 1835, Parduman Shah (17851803), Æ Tacas (3), VS 1845, 1853 (2), Girvan Yuddha (1803-16), Æ Taca, 1858 (date unclear), Sudarshan Shah (1815-59), Æ Taca, VS 1883, all Śrinagar mint (KM.C15, 25, 30, last coin not listed), very fine, some scarce (7)

£90-120

In AD 1815, the British annexed Garhwal and handed over control of the state to Sudarshan Shah. No silver Timashas are known struck in his name, but this seemingly rare copper issue must have been struck during his reign, as well as the rare donative gold coins. 424

Garhwal, Lallat Shah, (1772-81), Æ Taca, VS 1835, Parduman Shah (1785-1803), Æ tacas (3), VS 1845 (retrograde), 1853, date not on flan (2), Sudarshan Shah (1815-59), Æ Tacas (2), VS 1883, all Śrinagar mint (KM.C15, 24, 25, last coin not listed), fine to very fine, some scarce (6)

£80-100

425

Garhwal, Gorkha occupation, Æ Tacas (4), VS 1826 last digit unclear, 1827 (2), one with katar beneath, date unclear, possibly VS 1824 (RGV 1407 (the last the plate coin)), fine or a little better, some scarce (4) WWW.SPINK.COM

£80-100

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

426

426 (x2)

426

Tehri Garhwal, Sudarshan Shah (1815-59) gold donative Mohur, 10.57g, Samvat 1872 (1815), Arabic legends, Mahārāja Sudarshan Shāh, Samvat 1872, rev. Nagari ‘Śrī’ at top, Arabic legend below commencing ‘Badrinātha’ (Rhodes, JONS 134, Aug-Oct 1992, ‘The Gold Coins of Sudarshan Shah of Tehri Garhwal’), about uncirculated, as struck, and extremely rare This coin was acquired by Nicholas Rhodes from ‘the son of a former Nepalese ambassador to the UK, who comes from a Hindu family with origins in the far west of Nepal.’ A similar coin appeared in Spink-Taisei Singapore Coin Auction, 20 th February 1991, attributed to ‘Sudarshan Shah of Bhadaranath, AD1872’. Rhodes notes that similar coins had been sold by Steve Album (List 48, Dec.1986, item 165) and Bob Senior (List 8). Rhodes reassigned the date to the accession year of of Tehri Garhwal: Samvat 1872 (1815), 57 years earlier than described previously. Sudarshan Shah was the heir of Parduman Shah who ruled Garhwal until his kingdom was conquered by the Nepalese in 1804. During the Nepalese occupation Sudarshan took refuge in Bareilly, only returning after the British annexed Kumaon and Garhwal after the Gorkha war. A portion of the previous state of Garhwal was handed back to Sudarshan Shah, who chose Tehri as his capital, hence the name Tehri Garhwal. In return, Sudarshan Shah had to provide assistance and supplies to the British. He remained loyal to them throughout the 1857 Mutiny, until his death in 1859. Rhodes suggests the word ‘Badrinatha’ on the reverse of the coin was a reference to the famous Hindu temple near the source of the Alakananda River, one of the main branches of the Ganges. However, although this temple was situated in the original territory of Garhwal, by this time it stood in an area directly controlled by the British, and not in Tehri Garhwal. Also, there is no record that the British had ever given Sudarshan Shah permission to strike coins for circulation. Rhodes therefore postulates that this may have been a donative coin, struck by Sudarshan Shah in his own name in order that he might gain merit from the god. He also mentions the fact that when the temple had been in Garhwal the Rajas had made a habit of borrowing from the treasury to fund certain campaigns, using the revenue from various villages as collateral. It is therefore also possible that these, and similar coins, were used to repay these loans. Rhodes describes two types of similar coins: hand-struck Mohurs and HalfMohurs such as this, and machine-struck Mohurs that he presumes were struck after 1835 as they follow a later weight standard. One of the machine-struck issues sold for £16,000 at Baldwin, Auction 84, 25 Sept 2013, lot 1703

105

£10,000-15,000

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

KUMAON Almora was invaded and conquered by the Gorkhas in 1790. A year or so later, most of the Nepalese army had to return to Nepal because of a threat from the Chinese. Only a small garrison was left in Almora. The Almora mint opened some time in the 1790s.

427 427

428

Kumaon, Almora, Æ Falus, 11.20g, undated, in the name of Rana Bahadur Shah of Nepal (1777-99), shrī mahārāja rāna bahādur shāh bahādur, rev. falūs zarb almorah (RGV 1357), good fine, rare

£150-200

These early coins follow the weight standard of the Bahadur Shahi of Nepal, with the Falus weighing over 10g. After the final Nepalese conquest of Garhwal the weight standard was reduced until a standard copper coin weighed about 5g. At this weight they corresponded to the Garhwali Taca and it is thought that both types circulated together. 428

429

Kumaon, Almora, Æ Falus, 9.64g, in the name of Girvan Yuddha Vikram Shah of Nepal (1799-1816), shrī gīrvan yuddha vikram shāh, rev. falūs zarb almorah, date unclear, probably VS 1858 (AD 1801), upright bow and arrow on the reverse (RGV 1359.1), about very fine, some flatness, rare

£140-180

Kumaon, Almora, Æ Falus (4), in the name of Girvan Yuddha Vikram Shah of Nepal, dated VS 1858 (where visible), legends similar to the previous coin (RGV 1358-59), fair to fine (4)

£100-150

430 430

Kumaon, Almora, Æ Taca (4), featuring the Paduka or footprints of Śiva, blundered legends, various dates (RGV 1367-77; KM. C5 for general type), fine to very fine (4)

£150-200

These coins, which occur in a number of variants, were probably struck between AD 1809 and 1815, i.e. until Almora was annexed by the British. 431

Kumaon, Almora, Æ Taca (4), featuring the Paduka or footprints of Śiva, blundered legends, various dates (RGV 1367-77 (including plate coin 1376); KM. C5 for general type), fine to very fine (4)

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£150-200

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

432 432

Kumaon, Almora, Æ Taca (4), featuring the Paduka or footprints of Śiva, blundered legends, various dates (RGV 1367-77; KM. C5 for general type), fine to very fine (4)

£150-200

433 433

Kumaon, ¡ Timasha, 2.19g, in the name of Girvan Yuddha Vikram Shah of Nepal, Kumaon mint, dated VS 1868 (AD 1811), mahrājah gīrvān jū[ddha vikrām shah], rev. zarb khumāūn samvat [1]868 (JONS 151, pp.14-15), partially flat, good very fine, very rare This coin was published by Nicholas Rhodes in JONS 151 (1997). In the article he quotes a passage from a work by Mahesh Chandra Regmi as follows: ‘From Almora, Kumaon, Chautraiya Bam Shah and Subba Hastadal Shahi submitted a recommendation to Kathmandu that the iron coins of Almora be abolished and a mint started there for minting pure paisa and timasi coins. They add that the people of Kumaon would welcome such an arrangement... A royal order was issued on Tuesday, Baisakh Sudi 14, 1868 granting the permission ...’ The date on this coin accords with the date of the permission and must have been struck as a result. Whether or not the people of Kumaon really did welcome the issue is uncertain in view of its great rarity. In the previous Rhodes auction a similar coin sold for £340 (lot 528)

107

£200-300

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

LADAKH There were reputed to have been some coins struck by Ladakh in the name of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb as tribute was paid following incursions made by the Mughals in the mid 17th century, but none of these have been found as yet. In 1781 there is a record of a goldsmith from Leh being hired to strike coins called Ja’u. However, as the earliest extant coins closely copy those of the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar, it is likely these were issued in the early years of the 18th century. Later coins name the ruler of Ladakh as Aqibat Mahmud Khan (his Muslim name), and also Mahmud Shah, believed to be Mahmud Shah Durrani. After the conquest of the Doghra army in 1835 coins appeared in the name of their leader, Gulab Singh.

434

437

436 435

434

438

Ladakh (1771-1815), ¡ Ja’u, 2.57g, very similar to the early Timasha of Garhwal with the corrupt Farrukhsiyar legend, year 7, date AH1186 bottom right, rev, legend bhutan on top line with part of zarb tibet visible at the bottom (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 14 (plate coin); KM.1.2 (plate coin)), very fine, very scarce

£100-150

The first Ladakhi Ja’u is a very similar to the Garhwali Timashas naming Farrukhsiyar with many features being closely copied. In some cases this was re-interpreted by the Ladakhi die engravers, as exemplified by the appearance of the mint names ‘Tibet’ and ‘Bhutan.’ The hegira date 1186 (AD 1772-3) corresponds to the period when Garhwal was closed following the death of Pradip Shah in 1772. Rhodes suggests that, because of the political turmoil, trade was diverted from Garhwal to Ladakh and these Ja’u were struck specifically to pay for this trade. 435

436

437

438

Ladakh (1771-1815), ¡ Ja’u, 2.52g, similar to previous lot but less of date visible (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 14; KM.1.2), about extremely fine, rare

£100-150

Ladakh (1771-1815), ¡ Ja’u (2), 2.71, 2.66g, similar to previous lot but undated (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 15-16; KM.1.1), very fine to good very fine, scarce (2)

£150-200

Ladakh (1771-1815), ¡ Ja’u, 2.51g, similar to previous lot but undated and siyar enclosed within a square (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 18; KM. 2), good very fine, rare

£100-150

Ladakh (1771-1815), ¡ Ja’u, 2.61g, similar to previous lot, siyar enclosed within a square (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 18; KM. 2), very fine, rare

£100-120

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

441

439 439

440

441

440

Ladakh (1771-1815), ¡ Ja’u (2), 2.71, 2.55g, similar to previous lot, siyar enclosed within a square (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 18; KM. 2), very fine or a little better, rare (2)

£150-200

Ladakh (1771-1815), ¡ Ja’u (2), 2.58, 2.37g, similar to previous lot, undated (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 15-16; KM.1.1), very fine, scarce (2)

£150-200

Ladakh (1815-16), ¡ Ja’u, 2.28g, in the name of Mahmud Khan, the Muslim name of the king of Ladakh, year 14, obverse legend ‘aqibat mahmūd khān (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 19 (plate coin); KM. 3 (plate coin)), good very fine, very scarce

£100-120

This is the only type of Ladakhi Ja’u to bear a date. It is likely that it relates to year 14 of the reign of king Ts’e-dpal-don-grub-rnam-rgyal, which equates to 1815-16. This date fits well with the historical background of the area as it corresponds to a time when once again, trade between India and western Tibet had been diverted from Garhwal to Ladakh. This time it was due to the war between Nepal and the British, which took place between 1814-16. Rhodes suggests that the change of name on the obverse may have been due to a wish to demonstrate independence, and to disassociate Ladakh from the concept of Mughal suzerainty.

444

442 443 442

443

444

Ladakh (1815-16), ¡ Ja’u, 2.22g, in the name of Mahmud Khan, year 14, obverse legend ‘aqibat mahmūd khan, as previous lot (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 19; KM. 3), very fine, very scarce

£100-120

Ladakh (1815-16), ¡ Ja’u (2), 2.30, 2.17g, as previous lot, the second with regnal year 14 visible (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 19; KM. 3), very fine, very scarce (2)

£150-200

Ladakh (1816-42), ¡ Ja’u, 2.15g, in the name of Mahmud Shah, undated, mahmūd shāh within a beaded circle, rev. as previous lots, but with Nagari style ‘4’ to right (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 24 (plate coin); KM. 5.4 (plate coin)), very fine, some toning, scarce

£100-150

The Mahmud Shah quoted on this and subsequent coins is believed to refer to Mahmud Shah Durrani, the ruler of Kashmir.

109

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2) 445

446

Ladakh (1816-42), ¡ Ja’u (2), 1.99, 2.39g, in the name of Mahmud Shah, the first as previous lot, the second with reverse border of a plain circle and no figure ‘4’ (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 23 (plate coin), 24; KM. 5.1, 5.4), good fine to about very fine, scarce (2)

£150-200

Ladakh (1816-42), ¡ Ja’u (3), in the name of Mahmud Shah, with figure ‘4’ on reverse (2), without figure ‘4’ (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 23, 24; KM. 5.3, 5.4), one holed, good fine to about very fine, scarce (3)

£150-200

447 447

Ladakh (1842-50), ¡ Ja’u, 2.16g, in the name of Gulab Singh, obverse with 3-line Nagari legend Raja Gulab Singh, rev. plain katar with crescent on hilt (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 28 (plate coin); KM. 7.1 (plate coin)), edge crack, toned very fine, scarce

£100-150

This type was struck after Ladakh had been conquered by Gulab Singh and the Doghra army in 1835. Until 1845, Gulab Singh acknowledged Sikh suzerainty and ruled Ladakh as part of Jammu. This issue shows signs of significant debasement.

448

449

450

449

Ladakh (1842-50), ¡ Ja’u (2), 2.04, 2.01g, in the name of Gulab Singh, as previous coin, but katar has circle on hilt (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh 29; KM. 7.2), one holed and toned, very fine, scarce (2)

£150-200

Ladakh (1842-50), ¡ Ja’u (2), 2.15, 2.00g, in the name of Gulab Singh, as previous coin, katar has circle on hilt, the first also with two beads on blade (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh 29; KM. 7.2), the first with edge cracks, the second with double-struck obverse, about very fine to very fine, scarce (2)

£100-150

Ladakh (1842-50), ¡ Ja’u (2), 2.19, 1.79g, in the name of Gulab Singh, as previous coin, katar has circle on hilt, the first with one bead on blade, the second with two (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh 29; KM. 7.2), the first good very fine, the second with some flat areas, about very fine, scarce (2)

£100-150

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September 27, 2016 - LONDON

451 451

452

Ladakh (1842-50), ¡ Ja’u, 1.88g, in the name of Gulab Singh, as previous coin but katar has circle on hilt and figure ‘8’ on the blade (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh 30 (plate coin); KM. 7.4 (plate coin)), about extremely fine, attractively toned and scarce

£80-100

Ladakh (1842-50), ¡ Ja’u, 1.90g, in the name of Gulab Singh, as previous coin but legends blundered, katar has circle on hilt and figure ‘8’ on the blade (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh 31 (plate coin); KM. 7.5 (plate coin)), good very fine, toned and scarce

£70-90

453 453

Ladakh (1871), ¡ Ja’u, 1.92g, dated VS 1928 (AD 1871), Tibetan script 1928 Jam-bu’I Par, rev. Persian script zarb ladakh qilimrao jamūn sanah 1928 (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh 32; KM. 8), extremely fine, very scarce

£500-600

In the previous Rhodes auction a similar coin sold for £1,150 (lot 538).

454 454

455

456

Ladakh (1867-70), Æ Paisas (4), issued under Doghra domination, Persian legend, rev. Nagari legend, VS 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927 (KM.9) about very fine to very fine (4)

£150-200

Ladakh (1867-70), Æ Paisas (4), issued under Doghra domination, Persian legend, rev. Nagari legend, VS 1924 (2), 1926, date unclear (KM.9) about very fine to very fine (4)

£150-200

Ladakh (1867-70), Æ Paisas (4), issued under Doghra domination, Persian legend, rev. Nagari legend, VS 1924, 1925, 1926 (2) (KM.9) about very fine to very fine (4)

£150-200

111

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

SIKKIM There was no local coinage in Sikkim until the arrival of a number of Nepalese traders in the late 19th Century. The Nepalese Pradhan brothers acquired some land and also the right to mine copper. Some of this copper they wished to use for striking coins which they hoped they could use for trade with Nepal and the Darjeeling area. The coins, often poorly struck, are similar to contemporary Nepalese copper coins, except for the Sikkim legend. They were struck between 1883 and 1885. The dies bore dates but few of the coins show the date clearly. Parts of a date can be seen on a couple of the present coins. The weights of the issues vary between 4 and 6g. Some coins have the obverse legend in 3 lines, others in 4 lines. This coin issue was not a success as neither the British nor the Nepalese allowed it to circulate within their respective jurisdictions.

457 457

Sikkim (1883-85), Æ Paisas (5), different varieties, VS 1940, 1941 (2), 1942, date not visible, Śrī Śrī Śrī Sikimapati Mahāraj, rev. Śrī Śrī Śrī Sikima Sarkara, (KM. 1, 2, 3.1), crude fine to very fine, all scarce (5)

£150-200

458 458

Sikkim (1883-85), Æ Paisas (5), different varieties, VS 1940, 1941, 1942 (2), Śrī Śrī Śrī Sikimapati Mahāraj, rev. Śrī Śrī Śrī Sikima Sarkara, one a reverse mule (KM. 1, 3.1), crude fine to very fine, all scarce, the mule rare (5)

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£150-200

September 27, 2016 - LONDON

SIRMUR The Nepalese armies reached Sirmur in 1806 and remained in control until 1815, when the British annexed the state. Little is known about the Nepalese adminstration of Sirmur and there appear to be no records about the striking or circulation of coinage within the territory, apart from the coins themselves, which remain very scarce.

459 459

Sirmur, Girvan Yuddha (1806-15), Æ Paisas (2), 17.34, 17.00g, Nahan mint, AH 1227, VS 69 (AD 1812), shrī mahārajah gīrbān jūdah shāh bikram bahādur, rev. zarb nāhan 1227 sambat 69 (in Nagari numerals) (RGV. 1409; KM. C21), about very fine and fine, with clear legends, scarce (2)

£150-200

The weight standard of this issue is very different from that used by the Nepalese in either Garhwal or Almora. The samvat date on this issue ‘69’ stands for VS 1869.

460

461

Sirmur, Fath Prakash (1815-33), Æ Paisa, 19.37g, Nahan mint, VS 1877 (AD 1820), with bow and arrow symbol, obverse legends rather crudely engraved (KM. 11) very fine, scarce

£70-100

After the Gorkhas were expelled from Sirmur in 1815, the historical Rajput rulers were restored to their domains and governed what was tantamount to a British feudatory state. This is the last coin issue from the Nahan mint. 461

Sirmur, Fath Prakash (1815-33), Æ Paisa, 19.60g, Nahan mint, VS 1877 (AD 1820), with bow and arrow symbol, obverse legends rather crudely engraved (KM. 11), traces of verdigris, about very fine, scarce

113

£50-70

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

NEPALESE HILLS

462

Nepalese Hills, in the name of Girvan Yuddha (1799-1816), Æ Paisas (3), legend naming Girvan Yuddha, rev. date VS 1859 by katar, VS 1874, 1875 arranged around a trident (the first cf. RGV.1341-2, the last two unlisted), good to very fine and very rare (3)

£150-200

PROVENANCE:

The first bought in Nepal, the second ex. Ken Wiggins

COIN CABINET 463

A large 20th century coin cabinet, 36x78x32.5cms, comprising 60 trays arranged in two rows with central partition. The trays to hold up to 3000 coins from 21mm up to 45mm. Brass pulls and nameplate on each tray, green felts, open fronted. Well used but in sound condition.

THE END OF THE SALE

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£100-150

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NAME ______________________________________________________

This form should be sent or faxed to the Spink auction office in advance of the sale. References for new clients should be ADDRESS ____________________________________________________ supplied in good time to be taken up before the sale. Bids received later than one hour before the start of the sale may ____________________________________________________________ not be processed.

____________________________________________________________ YOU CAN ALSO BID IN REAL TIME ON SPINK LIVE.

POSTCODE ___________________________________________________

JUST VISIT WWW.SPINK.COM, REGISTER AND LOG INTO THE SALE.

SALE TITLE

DATE

CODE NAME

SALE NO.

The Nicholas Rhodes Collection: Coins of North East India (Part 2)

Tuesday 27 September 2016 at 2.00 p.m.

RHODES II

16041

I request Spink, without legal obligations of any kind on its part, to bid on the following Lots up to the price given below. I understand that if my bid is successful the Purchase Price will be the sum of the final bid and Buyer’s premium as a percentage of the final bid, any VAT chargeable, also a fee for bidding on the-saleroom.com only and fee for paying by card. The Rate of Premium is 20% of the final hammer price of each lot. I understand Spink will pursue me for payment for any successful bid. In addition, I understand and consent that Spink may share my personal details relating to the default with other auction houses and live bidding platforms to protect themselves from such defaults. All bids shall be treated as offers made on the Terms and Conditions for Buyers printed in the catalogue. I also understand that Spink provides the service of executing bids on behalf of clients for the convenience of clients and that Spink will not be held responsible for failing to execute bids. If identical commission bids are received for the same Lot, the commission bid received first by Spink will take precedence. Please note that you will not be notified if there are higher written bids received.

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY IN BLOCK LETTERS AND ENSURE THAT BIDS ARE IN STERLING Lot Number (in numerical order)

TEL. HOME

Price Bid £ (excluding Buyer’s Premium)

Lot Number (in numerical order)

Price Bid £ (excluding Buyer’s Premium)

Lot Number (in numerical order)

Price Bid £ (excluding Buyer’s Premium)

______________________________________________

TEL. OFFICE ____________________________________________

____________________________________________________

E-MAIL ________________________________________________

SIGNATURE _______________________________________________

VAT NUMBER ___________________________________________

FAX

Please indicate the type of card:

VISA

VISA DEBIT

MASTERCARD

SWITCH

AMERICAN EXPRESS

PAYMENTS MADE BY MASTERCARD OR VISA ARE SUBJECT TO A 2% FEE AND AMERICAN EXPRESS 4% FEE CARD NO: SIGNATURE

START DATE: EXPIRY DATE

ISSUE NO:

SECURITY CODE:

NAME (ON CREDIT CARD)

Please charge all purchases to my card Do not charge my card. I will arrange to send payment. (Spink will only charge your card should you default on the payment terms agreed) Please hold my purchased lots for collection

Continued ...

DATE

SALE NO.

Tuesday 27 September 2016 at 2.00 p.m.

16041

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY IN BLOCK LETTERS AND ENSURE THAT BIDS ARE IN STERLING Lot Number (in numerical order)

Price Bid £ (excluding Buyer’s Premium)

Lot Number (in numerical order)

Price Bid £ (excluding Buyer’s Premium)

BIDDING INCREMENTS Bidding generally opens below the low estimate and advances in the following order although the auctioneer may vary the bidding increments during the course of the auction. The normal bidding increments are: Up to £100 £100 to £300 £300 to £600 £600 to £1,000

by £5 by £10 £320-£350-£380-£400 etc. by £50

£1,000 to £3,000 £3,000 to £6,000 £6,000 to £20,000 £20,000 and up

by £100 £3,200-£3,500-£3,800-£4,000 etc. by £500 Auctioneer’s discretion

Lot Number (in numerical order)

Price Bid £ (excluding Buyer’s Premium)

VAT is chargeable on the Hammer price and the Buyer’s premium of daggered (†) and (Ω) lots at the standard rate (currently 20%), and on lots marked (x) at the reduced rate (currently 5% on the Hammer price and 20% on the Buyer’s premium). VAT on Margin Scheme lots (identified by the absence of any VAT symbol next to the lot number) is payable at 20% on the Buyer’s premium only.

REFERENCES REQUIRED FOR CLIENTS NOT YET KNOWN TO SPINK

TRADE REFERENCES

BANK REFERENCES

________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR BUYERS These conditions set out the terms on which we (Spink and Son Limited of 69 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury London WC1B 4ET (company no. 04369748)) contract with you (Buyer) either as agent on behalf of the Seller or as principal if we are the Seller. You should read these conditions carefully. 1

DEFINITIONS The following definitions apply in these conditions: Auctioneers’ Margin Scheme means a VAT margin scheme as defined by HM Revenue & Customs; Buyer’s Premium means the charge payable by you as a percentage of the Hammer Price, at the rates set out in clause 5.1 below; Certificate of Authenticity means a certificate issued by an Expert Committee confirming the authenticity of a Lot; Expert Committee means a committee of experts to whom a Lot may be sent for an extension in accordance with clause 3.4.3; Forgery means a Lot constituting an imitation originally conceived and executed as a whole with a fraudulent intention to deceive as to authorship, origin, age, period, culture or source where the correct description as to such matters is not reflected by the description in the catalogue and which at the date of the auction had a value materially less than it would have had if it had been in accordance with the description in the catalogue. Accordingly, no Lot shall be capable of being a Forgery by reason of any damage and/or restoration work of any kind (including re-enamelling); Hammer Price means the amount of the highest bid accepted by the auctioneer in relation to a Lot; Lot means any item deposited with us for sale at auction and, in particular, the item or items described against any Lot number in any catalogue; Reserve the amount below which we agree with the Seller that the Lot cannot be sold; Seller means the owner of the Lot being sold by us; Spink Group Spink and Son Limited, our subsidiaries and associated companies. VAT value added tax chargeable under VAT and any similar replacement or additional tax; and VAT Symbols means the symbols detailing the VAT status of the Lot details of which are set out at the back of the catalogue.

SPINK’S ROLE AS AGENT

2.1

All sales undertaken by us either at auction or privately are undertaken either as agent on behalf of the Seller or from time to time, as principal if we are the owner of the Lot. Please note that even if we are acting as agent on behalf of the Seller rather than as principal, we may have a financial interest in the Lot.

2.2

The contract for the sale of the Lot will be between you and the Seller.

3.4.3 If we accept a request for an expert opinion or Certificate of Authenticity we will submit the Lot to the Expert Committee. You acknowledge and accept that the length of time taken by an Expert Committee to reach an opinion will vary depending on the circumstances and in any event is beyond our control. 3.4.4 We will not accept a request for an extension on account of condition. Any Lot described in the catalogue as having faults or defects may not be returned even if an expert opinion or Certificate of Authenticity cites other faults or defects not included in the catalogue description, other than in the case of a Forgery.

BEFORE THE SALE 3.1

3.2

Examination of goods You are strongly advised to examine personally any goods in which you are interested, before the auction takes place. Condition reports are usually available on request. We provide no guarantee to you other than in relation to Forgeries, as set out in clause 5.13 of these Terms and Conditions.

3.4.5 Should Spink accept a request for an extension under the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, the fact may be stated by the Auctioneer from the rostrum prior to the sale of the Lot. 3.4.6 It should be noted that any stamp accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity is sold on the basis of that Certificate only and not on the basis of any other description or warranty as to authenticity. No request for an extension will be accepted on such a stamp and the return of such a stamp will not be accepted.

Catalogue descriptions 3.2.1 Statements by us in the catalogue or condition report, or made orally or in writing elsewhere, regarding the authorship, origin, date, age, size, medium, attribution, genuineness, provenance, condition or estimated selling price of any Lot are merely statements of opinion, and are not to be relied on as statements of definitive fact. Catalogue and web illustrations are for guidance only, and should not be relied on either to determine the tone or colour of any item. No lot shall be rejected on the grounds of inaccurate reproduction. No lot illustrated in the catalogue and online shall be rejected on the grounds of cancellation, centring, margins, perforation or other characteristics apparent from the illustration. Estimates of the selling price should not be relied on as a statement that this price is either the price at which the Lot will sell or its value for any other purpose. 3.2.2 Many items are of an age or nature which precludes their being in perfect condition and some descriptions in the catalogue or given by way of condition report make reference to damage and/or restoration. We provide this information for guidance only and the absence of such a reference does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others.

3.4.7 If you receive any correspondence from the Expert Committee in relation to the Lot, including but not limited to a Certificate of Authenticity, you must provide us with copies of such correspondence no later than 7 days after you receive such correspondence. 4

AT THE SALE 4.1

Refusal of admission Our sales usually take place on our own premises or premises over which we have control for the sale, and we have the right, exercisable at our complete discretion, to refuse admission to the premises or attendance at an auction.

4.2

Registration before bidding You must complete and sign a registration form and provide identification before making a bid at auction. Please be aware that we usually require buyers to undergo a credit check. If you have not bid successfully with Spink in the past, or you are registering with us for the first time, we reserve the right to require a deposit of up to 50% of the amount you intend to spend. Such deposit will be deducted from your invoice should you be successful. If you are unsuccessful at auction, your deposit will be returned by the same means it was paid to Spink. Some lots may be designated, prior to the auction, as “Premium Lots”, which means a deposit may be required before placing a bid on the item for sale. Information will be posted on our website in such an event.

4.3

Bidding as Principal When making a bid (whether such bids are made in person or by way of telephone bids operated by Spink, commission or online or email bids), you will be deemed to be acting as principal and will be accepting personal liability, unless it has been agreed in writing, at the time of registration, that you are acting as agent on behalf of a third party buyer acceptable to us.

4.4

Commission Bids If you give us instructions to bid on your behalf, by using the form provided in our catalogues or via our website, we shall use reasonable endeavours to do so, provided these instructions are received not later than 24 hours before the auction. If we receive commission bids on a particular Lot for identical amounts, and at auction these bids are the highest bids for the Lot, it will be sold to the person whose bid was received first. Commission bids are undertaken subject to other commitments at the time of the sale, and the conduct of the auction may be such that we are unable to bid as requested. Since this is undertaken as a free service to prospective buyers on the terms stated, we cannot accept liability for failure to make a commission bid. You should therefore always attend personally if you wish to be certain of bidding.

3.2.3 Other than as set out in clause 5.13, and in the absence of fraud, neither the Seller nor we, nor any of our employees or agents, are responsible for the correctness of any statement as to the authorship, origin, date, age, attribution, genuineness or provenance of any Lot nor for any other errors of description or for any faults or defects in any Lot. Every person interested should exercise and rely on his own judgment as to such matters. 3.3

Your Responsibility You are responsible for satisfying yourself as to the condition of the goods and the matters referred to in the catalogue description.

3.4

Extensions – Stamps only 3.4.1 If you wish to obtain an expert opinion or Certificate of Authenticity on any Lot (other than a mixed Lot or Lot containing undescribed stamps) you must notify us in writing not less than forty-eight hours before the time fixed for the commencement of the first session of the sale. If accepted by us, such request shall have the same effect as notice of an intention to question the genuineness or description of the Lot for the purposes of clause 5.13 (Refund in the case of Forgery) of these Terms and Conditions and the provisions of clause 5.13 (Refund in the case of Forgery) shall apply accordingly. 3.4.2 Notice of a request for an expert opinion or Certificate of Authenticity must give the reason why such opinion is required and specify the identity of your proposed expert which will be subject to agreement by us. We reserve the right, at our discretion, to refuse a request for an expert opinion or Certificate of Authenticity including (without limitation) where the proposed expert is not known to us.

January/16

4.5

On-line Bidding We offer internet services as a convenience to our clients. We will not be responsible for errors or failures to execute bids placed on the internet, including, without limitation, errors or failures caused by (i) a loss of internet connection by either party for whatever reason; (ii) a breakdown or problems with the online bidding software and/or (iii) a breakdown or problems with your internet connection, computer or system. Execution of on-line internet bids on www.spink.com and Spink Live is a free service undertaken subject to other commitments at the time of the auction and we do not accept liability for failing to execute an online internet bid or for errors or omissions in connection with this activity. Buyers who acquire lots on the-saleroom.com will have a fee of 3% on the hammer price added to their invoice for using this facility.

4.6

Telephone Bids If you make arrangements with us not less than 24 hours before the sale, we shall use reasonable endeavours to contact you to enable you to participate in bidding by telephone, but in no circumstances will we be liable to either the Seller or you as a result of failure to do so.

4.7

Currency Converter At some auctions, a currency converter will be operated, based on the one month forward rates of exchange quoted to us by Barclays Bank Plc or any other appropriate rate determined by us, at opening on the date of the auction. Bidding will take place in a currency determined by us, which is usually sterling for auctions held in London. The currency converter is not always reliable, and errors may occur beyond our control either in the accuracy of the Lot number displayed on the converter, or the foreign currency equivalent of sterling bids. We shall not be liable to you for any loss suffered as a result of you following the currency converter.

4.8

Video images At some auctions there will be a video screen. Mistakes may occur in its operation, and we cannot be liable to you regarding either the correspondence of the image to the Lot being sold or the quality of the image as a reproduction of the original.

4.9

Bidding Increments Bidding generally opens below the low estimate and advances in the following order although the auctioneer may vary the bidding increments during the course of the auction. The normal bidding increments are: Up to £100 by £5 £100 to £300 by £10 £300 to £600 £320-£350-£380-£400 etc. £600 to £1,000 by £50 £1,000 to £3,000 by £100 £3,000 to £6,000 £3,200-£3,500-£3,800-£4,000 etc. £6,000 to £20,000 by £500 £20,000 and up Auctioneer’s discretion

5.2

5.3

4.10 Bidding by Spink 4.10.1 We reserve the right to bid on Lots on the Seller’s behalf up to the amount of the Reserve (if any), which will never be above the low estimate printed in the auction catalogue. 4.10.2 The Spink Group reserves the right to bid on and purchase Lots as principal. 4.11 The Auctioneer’s Discretion The auctioneer has the right at his absolute discretion to refuse any bid to advance the bidding in such manner as he may decide to withdraw or divide any Lot, to combine any two or more Lots and, in the case of error or dispute, to put an item up for bidding again. 4.12 Successful Bid Subject to the auctioneer’s discretion, the striking of his hammer marks the acceptance of the highest bid, provided always that such bid is higher than the Reserve (where applicable), and the conclusion of a contract for sale between you and the Seller. 4.13 After Sale Arrangements If you enter into any private sale agreements for any Lot with the Seller within 60 days of the auction, we, as exclusive agents of the Seller reserve the right to charge you the applicable Buyer’s Premium in accordance with these Terms and Conditions, and the Seller a commission in accordance with the terms of the Seller’s agreement. 4.14 Return of Lot 4.14.1 Once your bid has been accepted for a Lot then you are liable to pay for that Lot in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. If there are any problems with a Lot then you must notify us within 7 days of receipt of the Lot, specifying the nature of the problem. We may then request that the Lot is returned to us for inspection. Save as set out in clause 5.13, the cancellation of the sale of any Lot and the refund of the corresponding purchase price is entirely at our sole discretion. We will not normally exercise that discretion if the Lot is not received by us in the same condition that it was in at the auction date. 4.14.2 No lot may be returned on account of condition if the condition was stated by a third party grading company (including, but not limited to PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG, PMG, WBG). 5

AFTER THE AUCTION 5.1 Buyer’s Premium and other charges In addition to the Hammer Price, you must pay us the Buyer’s Premium at a rate of 20% of the final Hammer price of each lot, a fee of 3% on the hammer price total for using the-saleroom.com and a fee for paying by card.

January/16

5.4

Value Added Tax Other than in respect of Zero-rated Lots (o) VAT is chargeable on the Hammer price and the Buyer’s premium of daggered (†) and (Ω) lots at the standard rate (currently 20%), and on lots marked (x) at the reduced rate (currently 5% on the Hammer price and 20% on the Buyer’s premium). VAT on Margin scheme lots (identified by the absence of any VAT symbol next to the lot number) is payable at 20% on the Buyer’s premium only. VAT Refunds General 5.3.1 As we remain liable to account for VAT on all Lots unless they have been exported outside the EU within 3 months of the date of sale, you will generally be asked to deposit all amounts of VAT invoiced. However, if a Spink nominated shipper is instructed, then any refundable VAT will not be collected. In all other cases credits will be made when proof of export is provided. If you export the Lot yourself you must obtain shipping documents from the Shipping Department for which a charge of £50 will be made. 5.3.2 If you export the Lot you must return the valid proof of export certificate to us within 3 months of the date of sale. If you fail to return the proof of export certificate to us within such period and you have not already accounted to us for the VAT, you will be liable to us for the full amount of the VAT due on such Lot and we shall be entitled to invoice you for this sum. 5.3.3 To apply for a refund of any VAT paid, the proof of export certificate must be sent to our Shipping Department clearly marked ‘VAT Refund’ within 3 months of the date of sale. No payment will be made where the total amount of VAT refundable is less than £50 and Spink will charge £50 for each refund processed. VAT Refunds - Buyers from within the EU 5.3.4 VAT refunds are available on the Hammer Price and Buyer’s Premium of Daggered (†) and Investment Gold (g) Lots. You must certify that you are registered for VAT in another EU country and that the Lot is to be removed from the United Kingdom within 3 months of the date of sale. 5.3.5 Where an EU buyer purchases a Lot on which import VAT has been charged, no refund of VAT is available from us. It may be possible to apply directly for a refund on form VAT 65 to HM Revenue & Customs Overeseas Repayment Section, Londonderry. VAT Refunds – Buyers from outside the EU 5.3.6 Where a Lot is included within the Auctioneers’ Margin Scheme and evidence of export from the EU is produced within 3 months of the date of sale, the VAT on Buyer’s Premium may be refunded. 5.3.7 Where the Lot is marked as a Daggered (†) Lot the VAT charged on the Hammer Price may be refunded where evidence of export from the EU is produced within 3 months of the date of sale. A refund of VAT charged on the Buyer’s Premium can also be made on receipt of proof of business as a collectibles dealer. 5.3.8 Where the Lot is marked as an Omega (Ω) Lot or an Import VAT (x) Lot and evidence of export from the EU is produced within 3 months of the date of sale, the VAT charged on both the Hammer Price and Buyer’s Premium may be refunded. Where required, we can advise you on how to export such Lots as a specific form of export evidence is required. Where we advise you on the export of the Lots, please be aware that the ultimate responsibility in respect of obtaining a valid proof of export certificate will lie with you and we will not be responsible for your failure to obtain such certificate. 5.3.9 Lot marked as Investment Gold (g) is exempt from VAT on Hammer price. A refund of VAT charged on the Buyer’s Premium can be made on receipt of proof of business as a collectibles dealer and where evidence of export from the EU is produced within 3 months of the date of sale. Payment 5.4.1 You must provide us with your full name and permanent address and, if so requested, details of the bank from which any payments to us will be made. You must pay the full amount due (comprising the Hammer Price, the Buyer’s Premium and any applicable VAT) within seven days after the date of the sale. This applies even if you wish to export the Lot and an export licence is (or may be) required. 5.4.2 You will not acquire title to the Lot until all amounts due have been paid in full. This includes instances where special arrangements were made for release of Lot prior to full settlement. 5.4.3 Payment should be made in sterling by one of the following methods: II(i) Direct bank transfer to our account details of which are set out on the invoice. All bank charges shall be met by you. Please ensure that your client number is noted on the transfer. i(ii) By cheque or bank draft made payable to Spink and Son Ltd and sent to Spink at 69 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4ET. Please note that the processing charges for payments made by cheques or bank drafts drawn on a non-U.K bank shall be met by you. Please ensure that the remittance slip printed at the bottom of the invoice is enclosed with your payment. (iii) By Visa, Mastercard or American Express. Payments made by American Express are subject to a 4% fee. Payments by all other credit cards and debit cards issued by overseas banks are subject to a fee of 2%. For all card payments there are limits to the amounts we will accept depending on the type of card being used and whether or not the cardholder is present.

5.4.4 Payments should be made by the registered buyer and not by third parties, unless it has been agreed at the time of registration that you are acting as an agent on behalf of a third party. 5.5 Invoices Invoices may consist of one or more pages and will show: Zero rated Lots (o); no symbol Lots sold under the Auctioneers’ Margin Scheme; Lots marked (g) special scheme Investment Gold; Daggered Lots (†), imported Lots marked (x) and (Ω), (e) Lots with Zero rated hammer for EU VAT registered buyers. 5.6 Collection of Purchases 5.6.1 Unless specifically agreed to the contrary, we shall retain lots purchased until all amounts due to us, or to the Spink Group, have been paid in full. Buyers will be required to pay for their lots when they wish to take possession of the same, which must be within 7 days of the date of the sale, unless prior arrangements have been made with Spink. Without prior agreement, lots will not be released until cleared funds are received with regard to payments made by cheque. 5.6.2 Unless we notify you to the contrary, items retained by us will be covered in accordance with our policy which is available for inspection at our offices from the date of sale for a period of seven days or until the time of collection, whichever is sooner. After seven days or from the time of collection, whichever is the earlier, the Lot will be entirely at your risk. 5.6.3 Our policy will not cover and we are unable to accept responsibility for damage caused by woodworm, changes in atmospheric conditions or acts of terrorism. 5.7 Notification We are not able to notify successful bidders by telephone. While Invoices are sent out by mail after the auction we do not accept responsibility for notifying you of the result of your bid. You are requested to contact us by telephone or in person as soon as possible after the auction to obtain details of the outcome of your bids to avoid incurring charges for late payment. 5.8 Packing and handling 5.8.1 We shall use all reasonable endeavours to take care when handling and packing a purchased Lot but remind you that after seven days or from the time of collection, whichever is sooner, the Lot is entirely at your risk. Our postage charges are set out at the back of the catalogue. 5.8.2 It is the responsibility of the Buyer to be aware of any Import Duties that may be incurred upon importation to the final destination. Spink will not accept return of any package in order to avoid these duties. The onus is also on the Buyer to be aware of any Customs import restrictions that prohibit the importation of certain collectibles. Spink will not accept return of the Lot(s) under these circumstances. Spink will not accept responsibility for Lot(s) seized or destroyed by Customs. 5.8.3 If the Buyer requires delivery of the Lot to an address other than the invoice address this will be carried out at the discretion of Spink. 5.9 Recommended packers and shippers If required our shipping department may arrange shipment as your agent. Although we may suggest carriers if specifically requested, our suggestions are made on the basis of our general experience of such parties in the past and we are not responsible to any person to whom we have made a recommendation for the acts or omissions of the third parties concerned. 5.10 Remedies for non-payment or failure to collect purchases 5.10.1 If you fail to make payment within seven days of your stipulated payment date set out in your invoice, we shall be entitled to exercise one or more of the following rights or remedies: 5.10.1.1 to charge interest at the rate of 2% per month compound interest, calculated on a daily basis, from the date the full amount is due; 5.10.1.2 to set off against any amounts which the Spink Group may owe you in any other transaction the outstanding amount remaining unpaid by you; 5.10.1.3 we may keep hold of all or some of your Lots or other property in the possession of the Spink Group until you have paid all the amounts you owe us or the Spink Group, even if the unpaid amounts do not relate to those Lots or other property. Following fourteen days’ notice to you of the amount outstanding and remaining unpaid, the Spink Group shall have the right to arrange the sale of such Lots or other property. We shall apply the proceeds in discharge of the amount outstanding to us or the Spink Group, and pay any balance to you; 5.10.1.4 where several amounts are owed by you to the Spink Group in respect of different transactions, to apply any amount paid to discharge any amount owed in respect of any particular transaction, whether or not you so direct; 5.10.1.5 to reject at any future auction any bids made by you or on your behalf or obtain a deposit from you before accepting any bids. 5.10.2 If you fail to make payment within thirty-five days, we shall in addition be entitled: 5.10.2.1 to cancel the sale of the Lot or any other item sold to you at the same or any other auction; 5.10.2.2 to arrange a resale of the Lot, publicly or privately, and, if this results in a lower price being obtained, claim the balance from you together with all reasonable costs including a 20% seller’s commission, expenses, damages, legal fees, commissions and premiums of whatever kind associated with both sales or otherwise, incurred in connection with your failure to make payment; January/16

5.10.2.3 when reselling the Lot, place a notice in our catalogue stating that you successfully purchased the Lot at auction but have subsequently failed to pay the Hammer Price of the Lot; or 5.10.2.4 take any other appropriate action as we deem fit. 5.10.3 If you fail to collect within fourteen days after the sale, whether or not payment has been made, you will be required 5.10.3.1 to pay a storage charge of £2 per item per day plus any additional handling cost that may apply. 5.10.3.2 you will not be entitled to collect the Lot until all outstanding charges are met, together with payment of all other amounts due to us. 5.11 Uses of default information If you fail to make payment for a Lot in accordance with these Terms and Conditions: 5.11.1 We reserve the right to refuse you the right to make bids for any future auction irrespective of whether previous defaults have been settled; and 5.11.2 You consent to us disclosing details of such default to other auctioneers and live bidding platforms, which will include your name, address, nature of the default and the date of the default. Auctioneers or live bidding platforms who receive details of the default may rely on such information when deciding whether to enter into a transaction with you in the future. 5.12 Export Licence 5.12.1 If required we can, at our discretion, advise you on the detailed provisions of the export licensing regulations. Where we advise you in relation to export licensing regulations the ultimate responsibility in respect of any export will lie with you and we will not be responsible for your failure to apply for any necessary licences. 5.12.2 If the Lot is going to be hand carried by you, you may be required to produce a valid export licence to us or sign a waiver document stating that a licence will be applied for. 5.12.3 You should always check whether an export licence is required before exporting. Export licences are usually obtained within two or three weeks but delays can occur. 5.12.4 Unless otherwise agreed by us in writing, the fact that you wish to apply for an export licence does not affect your obligation to make payment within seven days nor our right to charge interest on late payment. 5.12.5 If you request that we apply for an export licence on your behalf, we shall be entitled to recover from you our disbursements and out of pocket expenses in relation to such application, together with any relevant VAT. 5.12.6 We will not be obliged to rescind a sale nor to refund any interest or other expenses incurred by you where payment is made by you despite the fact that an export licence is required. 5.13 Refund in the case of Forgery 5.13.1 A sale will be cancelled, and the amount paid refunded to you if a Lot (other than a miscellaneous item not described in the catalogue) sold by us proves to have been a Forgery. We shall not however be obliged to refund any amounts if either (a) the catalogue description or saleroom notice at the auction date corresponded to the generally accepted opinion of scholars or experts at that time, or fairly indicated that there was a conflict of opinions, or (b) it can be demonstrated that the Lot is a Forgery only by means of either a scientific process not generally accepted for use until after publication of the catalogue or a process which at the date of the auction was unreasonably expensive or impracticable or likely to have caused damage to the Lot. Furthermore, you should note that this refund can be obtained only if the following conditions are met: 5.13.1.1 you must notify us in writing, within seven days of the receipt of the Lot(s), that in your view the Lot concerned is a Forgery; 5.13.1.2 you must then return the item to us within fourteen days from receipt of the Lot(s), in the same condition as at the auction date; and 5.13.1.3 as soon as possible following return of the Lot, you must produce evidence satisfactory to us that the Lot is a Forgery and that you are able to transfer good title to us, free from any third party claims. 5.13.1.4 you must provide to us all evidence obtained by you that a Lot is a Forgery no later than 7 days after you receive such evidence. 5.13.2 In no circumstances shall we be required to pay you any more than the amount paid by you for the Lot concerned and you shall have no claim for interest. 5.13.3 The benefit of this guarantee is not capable of being transferred, and is solely for the benefit of the person to whom the original invoice was made out by us in respect of the Lot when sold and who, since the sale, has remained the owner of the Lot without disposing of any interest in it to any third party. 5.13.4 We shall be entitled to rely on any scientific or other process to establish that the Lot is not a Forgery, whether or not such process was used or in use at the date of the auction. 6

LIABILITY Nothing in these Terms and Conditions limits or excludes our liability for: 6.1 death or personal injury resulting from negligence; or 6.2 any damage or liability incurred by you as a result of our fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

USE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION 7.1 We will use the personal information you provide to us to: 7.1.1 process the bids you make on Lots (whether successful or otherwise) and other auction related services we provide; 7.1.2 process your payment relating to a successful purchase of a Lot; 7.1.3 arrange for delivery of any Lot you purchase, which will include passing your details to shipping providers and, on overseas deliveries, to customs where they make enquiries regarding the Lot; 7.1.4 inform you about similar products or services that we provide, but you may stop receiving these at any time by contacting us. 7.2 In accordance with clause 4.2, you agree that we may pass your information to credit reference agencies and that they may keep a record of any search that they do. 7.3 In accordance with clause 5.11, you agree that where you default on making payment for a Lot in accordance with these terms and conditions we may disclose details of such default to other auctioneers and live bidding platforms. 7.4 We are also working closely with third parties (including, for example, other auctioneers and live bidding platforms) and may receive information about you from them. COPYRIGHT 8.1 We shall have the right (on a non-exclusive basis) to photograph, video or otherwise produce an image of the Lot. All rights in such an image will belong to us, and we shall have the right to use it in whatever way we see fit. 8.2 The copyright in all images, illustrations and written material relating to a Lot is and shall remain at all times our property and we shall have the right to use it in whatever way we see fit. You shall not use or allow anyone else to use such images, illustrations or written material without our prior written consent. VAT You shall give us all relevant information about your VAT status and that of the Lot to ensure that the correct information is printed in the catalogues. Once printed, the information cannot be changed. If we incur any unforeseen cost or expense as a result of the information being incorrect, you will reimburse to us on demand the full amount incurred.

10 NOTICES All notices given under these Terms and Conditions may be served personally, sent by 1st class post, or faxed to the address given to the sender by the other party. Any notice sent by post will be deemed to have been received on the second working day after posting or, if the addressee is overseas, on the fifth working day after posting. Any notice sent by fax or served personally will be deemed to be delivered on the first working day following despatch. 11 ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS The following provisions of this clause 10 shall apply only if you are acting for the purposes of your business. 11.1 Limitation of Liability Subject to clause 6, we shall not be liable, whether in tort (including for negligence) or breach of statutory duty, contract, misrepresentation or otherwise for any: 11.1.1 loss of profits, loss of business, depletion of goodwill and/or similar losses, loss of anticipated savings, loss of goods, loss of contract, loss of use, loss of corruption of data or information; or 11.1.2 any special, indirect, consequential or pure economic loss, costs, damages, charges or expenses. 11.2 Severability If any part of these Terms and Condition is found by any court to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that part may be discounted and the rest of the conditions shall continue to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 11.3 Force majeure We shall have no liability to you if we are prevented from, or delayed in performing, our obligations under these Terms and Conditions or from carrying on our business by acts, events, omissions or accidents beyond our reasonable control, including (without limitation) strikes, lock-outs or other industrial disputes (whether involving our workforce or the workforce of any other party), failure of a utility service or transport network, act of God, war, riot, civil commotion, malicious damage, compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction, accident, breakdown of plant or machinery, fire, flood, storm or default of suppliers or subcontractors. 11.4 Waiver 11.4.1 A waiver of any right under these Terms and Conditions is only effective if it is in writing and it applies only to the circumstances for which it is given. No failure or delay by a party in exercising any right or remedy under these Terms and Conditions or by law shall constitute a waiver of that (or any other) right or remedy, nor preclude or restrict its further exercise. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall preclude or restrict the further exercise of that (or any other) right or remedy. 11.4.2 Unless specifically provided otherwise, rights arising under these Terms and Conditions are cumulative and do not exclude rights provided by law.

January/16

11.5 Law and Jurisdiction 11.5.1 These Terms and Conditions and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of England and Wales. 11.5.2 The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of, or in connection with, Terms and Conditions or their subject matter.

Postal Charges Prices for books (items sent by this method are not covered by insurance) Weight

Rest of the World

Up to 1kg

£8 for any weight

£12

£15

Up to 2kg

£8 for any weight

£18

£25

Prices for all other items including postage and packaging Invoice Value

Rest of the World

Up to £1,500

£10

£15

£20

Up to £10,000

£20

£30

£40

Above £10,001

£20

£50

£60

Shipments of more than 2kg or volumetric measurement of more than 2kg have to be sent by courier. Certain countries may incur extra charge when courier services are required by our insurance policy. For lots sent by courier please contact Auctionteam@spink.com for calculation of any further relevant cost in addition to the above charges. Value Added Tax (VAT) Charging of (VAT) at Auction The information shown on this page sets out the way in which Spink intends to account for VAT. i.

Auctioneers’ Margin Scheme 1. Where possible, we will offer Lots for sale under the Auctioneers’ Margin Scheme. Such Lots can be identified by the absence of any VAT symbol next to the Lot number in the catalogue and will not be subject to VAT on the Hammer Price. 2. Where Lots are sold using the Auctioneers’ Margin Scheme to UK VAT–registered businesses, the VAT on Buyers’ Premium is not recoverable as input tax. Upon request on sale day, we will issue invoices that show VAT separately on both the Hammer Price and the Buyer’s Premium. This will enable VAT-registered businesses to recover the VAT charged as input tax, subject to the normal rules for recovering input tax.

ii.

Zero-Rated Lots Limited Categories of goods, such as books, are Zero-rated (o) for VAT in the United Kingdom. Such Lots are offered under the Auctioneers’ Margin Scheme. In these circumstances no VAT will be added to the Buyer’s premium.

iii.

Daggered Lots Lots which are Daggered (†) in the catalogue are subject to VAT at 20% on both the Hammer Price and the Buyer’s Premium.

iv.

Imported and Omega Lots Lots which are marked (x) in the catalogue are subject to VAT at 5% on the Hammer price plus 20% on the Buyer’s premium. Lots which bear the Omega symbol (Ω) are subject to VAT at 20% on the Hammer Price and on the Buyer’s Premium. This VAT is payable on items imported from outside the EU. In these cases we have used a temporary importation procedure, which in effect means that the point of importation is deferred until the Lot has been sold. At this point the Buyer is treated as the importer and is liable to pay the import VAT due. We will collect the VAT from you and pay it to HM Customs and Excise on your behalf.

Investment Gold Lots Lots marked (g) in the catalogue are exempt from VAT on the Hammer Price and are subject to VAT at 20% on the Buyer’s Premium. A refund of VAT charged on the Buyer’s Premium can also be made on receipt of proof of business as a collectibles dealer outside of the EU.

SALE CALENDAR 2016/2017

STAMPS 31 August - 12 September 10 September 10 September 20 September 23 September 15 October 25 October 26/27 October 10 November

London Singapore Singapore London New York Hong Kong London London

Hong Kong London London London London New York

CSS23 16048 16021 16006 16041 326

London London London

16022 16007 16007

15 January 16 January

BANKNOTES 17/18 August 28/29 September 4 October 19/20 October 7 December 13 January 16 January

Hong Kong London London New York London New York New York

CSS23 16015 16050 326 16016 327 329

MEDALS 24 November 16 January

Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale

London New York

16003 329

BONDS & SHARES 17/18 August 19/20 October 10 November 18 November 16 January

Hong Kong New York Lugano London New York

AUTOGRAPHS 19/20 October 16 January

The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale The Numismatic Collector’s Series Sale

New York New York

WINES 13 October

An Evening of Great Whiskies and Spirits

Hong Kong

November COINS 17/18 August 19 - 29 September 26 September 26/27 September 27 September 19/20 October 29 November 30 November 1 December tbc

Administration Angie Ihlo Fung Newton Tsang Sue Pui Arthur Chan Gary Tan

The above sale dates are subject to change Ken japan@spink.com

Lugano New York

London New York New York

16047 16031 16032 16044 157 CSS20 16033 16034 SW1019 158

328 329

CSS23 326 SW1020 16018 329

326 329

SFW21

£25

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION:

THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTON: COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)  27 SEPTEMBER 2016



STAMPS COINS BANKNOTES MEDALS BONDS & SHARES AUTOGRAPHS BOOKS WINES

69 Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4ET www.spink.com

LONDON

 241

COINS OF NORTH EAST INDIA (PART 2)

27 SEPTEMBER 2016

LONDON