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Auction: 25088 - The Nicholas Rhodes Collection of Nepalese Coins Part I
Lot: 55

Nepal, Pratap Malla (1641-1674), square Double-Mohar, NS 781, Obv. trident (triśūla) in centre, legend around among flower decoration and within double square surrounded by dotted border, Śrī 2 Rāja Rājendra Jaya, Rev. sword (khadga, a symbol associated with wisdom) in centre, legend Prātapa/Malla/Deva/781 around in four lines among flower decoration and within double square surrounded by dotted border, 10.86g, 12h (RGV 258; KM 166), with a light wave to edges of flan and red deposits, otherwise toned, very fine and rare

Provenance

The Nicholas Rhodes Collection of Nepalese Coins and Medals: Part One

M. Sakya, by private treaty, May 1967

This beautiful coin is 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, since according to trition, 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.

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Estimate

Starting price
£1000