Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 23127 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 32: Indian and Islamic Coins Featuring the Klaus Bronny Collection of Bhutanese and Nepalese Coins - e-Auction
Lot: 9671

(x) Nepal, Kingdom of Kathmandu, Chakravartendra Malla (1669), Mohar, NS 789 (1669), Sri 2 Jaya Chakrava, conch and wheel, a bow to right and five arrows left, rev. rtendra Malla Deva 789, elephant goad and noose in triangle, 5.44g (Rhodes, Nepal 296; RGV 264; KM 173), some softness, otherwise toned in the fields, good very fine

The Klaus Bronny Collection of Bhutanese and Nepalese Coins

See the following reference to this coin by Wright: History of Nepal, Translated from, Parabatiya, 3rd ed. Calcutta, 1966, p. 149.

"By one Swami's (mendicant) vice Pratapa Malla of Kathmandu left his throne for a time to be filled in turn by his four sons, for one year each (during ca. A.D. 1668). Chakravartendra Malla's coin, devised by this Swami, consists of a triangular Banastra (bow and arrow), Pasha (a noose), Ankush (the iron hook for driving an elephant), Kamal (a lotus), Chamar (a yak's tail), and Sambat 789 (A.D. 1669). This vice caused his death."

Wright comments on this as follows: "A bow and arrow are ominous of death, but, nevertheless, the water in which such a coin is dipped possesses the quality of causing a speedy delivery in child-bed. These coins, which are very rare, are still used for this purpose." What Wright describes as Chamar (yak tail or fly whisk) is better identified as a mace on the coin.

One should note that the four emblems conch, wheel, mace and lotus flower are normally associated with the Hindu god Vishnu, while the elephant go and the noose are emblems related to the elephant-headed god Ganesh. According to Milan Ratna Shakya this coin type is known as Nythuban because of the five arrows (Shakya, Milan Ratna: "Ganesa Yantra. Medieval Silver coins". Mudraa Journal of Nepal Numismatic Society, No. 2, Kathmandu, March 2010, p. 28-30)

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

Sold for
£230

Starting price
£90