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Auction: 316 - The Collector's Series
Lot: 236

India. Assam. Shiva Simha (1715-1744). Round Rupee, SE 1649, year 14 (1727). Rangpur. 11.36 gms. Persian legends both sides, lion right lower obverse. KM 74. Very Rare. Extremely Fine. While Assam´s coins are generally octagonal with Bengali or Devanagari legends, other shapes and other scripts were also occasionally used. Following a failed attempt by the Mughal Empire to annex Assam, Ahom script denominated Assamese coinage from 1663 to 1696 -- motivated likely by a rise in Ahom nationalism. With the coronation of Rudra Simha, an ardent Hindu, Sanskrit inscriptions again became the rule on Assam´s coins, with Ahom used only on some rare ceremonial issues. Persian legends, meanwhile, first appear during Shiva Simha´s reign on silver rupees of the Gargaon and Rangpur mints. Two types are squarish, while the type above is the only round issue, and the first coin to name the mint of Rangpur, the Assamese capital founded by Rudra Simha in 1707. These rare Persian legend types emulate Mughal coins and were likely conceived to greater facilitate trade. Persian legends only occur again on square and octagonal coins of Rajesvara Simha (1751-1769) in both silver and gold.

Sold for
$500