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Auction: 23127 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 32: Indian and Islamic Coins Featuring the Klaus Bronny Collection of Bhutanese and Nepalese Coins - e-Auction
Lot: 9670

(x) Nepal, Kingdom of Kathmandu, Jaya Pratap Malla (1641-1674), 'Square' Double Mohar, NS 781 (1661), trident, rev. sword, 20.47g (Rhodes, Nepal 287; RGV 258; KM 166), ex mount and rubbed, yet toned, about very fine and rare; Mohar, NS 775 (1655), imitation Persian characters, rev. imitation Persian characters, with date, 5.24g (Rhodes, Nepal 290; RGV 260; KM 164), toned with some softening, very fine; Mohar (2) NS 761 (1641), 4.64g; 5.44g (Rhodes, Nepal 288; RGV 259; KM 163), some softened details, about very fine; Suki, NS 769 (1649), trident, rev. legend in three lines, 1.40g (RGV 262 Rhodes, Nepal 294), flat in parts, about very fine (5)

The Klaus Bronny Collection of Bhutanese and Nepalese Coins

The 'Square' Double Mohar was inspired by a rupee of the Mogul Emperor Jahangir of the Agra mint. It is the only double Mohar struck during the Malla period. The date NS 781 corresponds to 1661, which marks 20 years of rule of Pratap Malla.

The sword (khga) which features on many coins of Nepal has a particular cultural significance in Nepal: Manjushri (also known as a boddhisvattva of wisdom), drained the lake which once filled the Kathmandu valley by cutting the mountain with his sword at a place near Chobar. The city of Kathmandu originally had the shape of a sword. Swords used as weapons normally had double cutting edges, and this type of symmetrical sword is represented on the Nepalese coins.

Pratap was proud of his artistic achievements and this Arabic imitation Mohar is certainly a beautifully produced type, copied from one of the finest Agra rupees of Jahangir. In contemporary documents coins of this type are known as 'Kavindramallitanka', presumably specified because of its fine standard of production.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£2,200

Starting price
£90