Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 25088 - The Nicholas Rhodes Collection of Nepalese Coins Part I
Lot: 287

(g) Nepal, Birendra Vira Vikrama Shah (1972-2001), gold Half-Asarphi, VS 2039 (1982), Obv. small central square with trident, surrounded by legend, all this within square which has openings on three sides, legend starts above square with Śrī Śrī and continues inside the square with Śrī 5 Birendra/ Vīra Vikra/ma Sāha Deva and date 2039 below, moon to left and sun to right of Śrī Śrī above square, cakra (discus) and lotus flower on left side, and conch and mace on right side of square, Rev. central circle with eight petals attached to it, sword with garland and legend Śrī Bhavānī on either side of garland in centre of circle, Ek āsarphī /Nepāl below, legend in petals Śrī Śrī Śrī Gorakhanātha, additional dodecagon near the rim on both sides, edge milled, 4.98g (KM 1021), struck from worn dies, uncirculated, a scarce survivor accounting to the instruction to have this debased issue melted, thus rare

Provenance

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

Bhupendra Narayan Shrestha, by private treaty, March 1985

Regarding the gold coins dated VS 2039 Nicholas Rhodes reports the following: “I was told by Mr. Ishwari Raj Pradhan that while he was a mint master in the 1970's and 1980's coins were struck from pure gold bars supplied by the Palace, stated to be 0.999 fine.

On one occasion gold of only 90% fine was supplied, and when the resulting debased coins (dated 2039VS = 1982 AD) arrived at the Palace they were immediately returned as unacceptable. He was instructed to melt them, refine the gold, and supply only pure gold coins in future. For that reason, the gold coins dated 2039VS are the only Nepalese gold coins in recent years to be debased, and they are also very rare (Rhodes, Nicholas: “The Fineness of Nepalese Gold Coins”, Mudraa, Journal of Nepal Numismatic Society, no. 1, Kathmandu, October 2007, p. 6-7).

Not currently suitable for third party authentication.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate
£400 to £500

Starting price
£300