COINS OF INDIA, PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH, NEPAL, BHUTAN & SRI LANKA
FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO THE PRESENT
INDO-GREEK
SILVER DRACHM
OF APOLLODOTUS II
The Indo-Greeks descended from
Alexander the Great, who conquered
northern India in 326BC. They were the eastern most part of Hellenistic
culture, ruling the area around Afghanistan, Pakistan and north-western
India. They maintained Greek culture, religion and language,
incorporating it with elements of Indian culture and language.
Apollodotus II was one of the greatest Indo-Greek kings.
During his reign, from about 80 to 65BC he re-established much of the
glory and territory of the Indo-Greek kingdoms. After his
death the Indo-Greek kingdom fragmented and soon disappeared.
This silver drachm of Apollodotus II reflects both the Greek and Indian
culture. The obverse depicts the bust of the king with a
Greek legend that translates as "
Of
Apollodotus the Great, Savior & Father loving King".
The reverse depicts Athena Alkidemos standing and has the legend in
Kharoshthi script that translates "
Savior
King Appolodotus".
He obviously thought well of
himself. The coin is approximately 17mm in diameter. It is an
attractive and historic ancient silver coin from the farthest reaches
of Greek culture.
Item
IN-APOLLO INDO-GREEK SILVER DRACHM,
APOLLODOTUS II 80-65BC
$45.00
KUSHAN
COIN OF THE "UNKNOWN KING"
The
Kushan Empire ruled the area from northern India through Afghanistan
into Central Asia in the first and second centuries AD. It
grew wealthy controlling trade centers on the Silk Road and on the
Indus River and had diplomatic relations with both Rome and
China. Until recently the actual name of its second emperor
was unknown. He was known only by the title on his coins
"Soter Megas", which translates as “Great Savior”. He thought
of himself as being so great, he did need to use his actual name. With
the discovery of a large stone tablet listing the names of the Kushan
rulers it is now known his name was Vima Takto who ruled from about 80
to 105AD. His bronze tetradrachm features a Greek style
diademed bust of the king on one side, and the king on horseback on the
other. It is an attractive, well-struck ancient coin.
Item
SOTER KUSHAN BRONZE TETRADRACHM, SOTER MEGAS
(VIMA TAKTO) ca.80-105AD VF $39.95
ANCIENT
KUSHANO-SASANIAN COPPER
COIN
After the
split of the Kushan Empire around 230AD, the eastern portion became a
vassal state of the Sasanian
Empire is known as the
Kushano-Sassanians. It controlled parts of what are now
Afghanistan and Pakistan. It remained until about 350AD, when the area
was conquered by the White Huns (Hephthalites). These small,
crude copper coins, sometimes called a Drachm or a unit, were minted
between about 241 and 350AD. They are some of the last coins of the
Kushano-Sasanians. They are modeled after the Sasanian silver Drachm,
however are smaller, much cruder and made of copper. One side
features the
bust of the king, the other features a Zoroastrian fire
altar.
Item
IN-KUSHAN-SAS KUSHANO-SASANIAN COPPER
DRACHM,
ca.241-350AD G-CRUDE
$5.00
SILVER COINS OF THE
HABBARID AMIRS OF SINDH
Sindh
(Sind) is located in what is now the south-eastern portion of
Pakistan. The Habbaris were Arab traders and merchants that
settled in Sindh in pre-Islamic times. Despite living in
India for hundreds of years and marrying locals, they maintained their
Arab identity, language and customs. By the mid 9th century
AD they were able to assert control over Sindh, paying only nominal
allegiance to the Abbasid Caliph. The coinage of the Habbarids of Sind
(also known as the Amirs of Sindh) consisted of small (10 to
11mm) silver Dammas (Dhammas) that feature Arabic inscriptions on both
sides. In 1026 Ghaznavid Sultan Mahmud conquered
Sindh. We are pleased to offer silver Dammas of two of the
Habbarid sultans of Sindh. Abdallah I, who ruled from about
884 to 913AD, and Ali, who ruled from about 973 to 987AD
Item SINDH-ABD SINDH SILVER DAMMA, ABDALLAH
ca.884-913AD VF
$8.00
Item SINDH-ALI
SINDH SILVER DAMMA, ALI ca. 973-987AD VF
$7.00
THE FAMOUS BULL &
HORSEMAN JITAL
The
Bull and Horseman Jital was introduced by the Hindu Kings in Kabul and
Ohind (now Afghanistan and Pakistan) in the 9th century. One
side featured a humped bull. The other side a man on a horse
holding a lance. The coins became the standard for much of
Afghanistan and northern India. It continued to be struck for
hundreds of years by neighboring and successive kingdoms. It gradually
become cruder and more debased as each generation would copy the design
from coins found in circulation. These Bull and Horseman
Jitals date from around the 10th to 11th century. They are
made of debased silver and feature crude line drawings of the bull and
horseman. I do not have the time or patience to do an exact
attribution so am letting them go cheap.
Item
B&H INDIA BIlLLON BULL &
HORSEMAN
JITAL circa 1000AD VF-crude
$7.50
MEDIEVALCOIN OF THE
SULTANATE OF JAUNPUR 
Jaunpur
was a powerful Sultanate in north-central India. Jaunpur was
established in 1349 by the Sultan of Delhi who later appointed his
daughter's lover the governor. In 1393 the governor
declared independence. Jaunpur reached its peak under Ibrahim
Shah, who reigned from 1402 to 1440. He attacked but was
unable to conquer Delhi to the west. His war with the Bengal Sultanate
to the east was only ended after diplomatic pressure from the Ming
Empire of China and Timurid Empire. Ibrahim Shah was a patron
of Islamic learning and established a number of colleges which produced
many scholarly works on Islamic theology. In 1480 Jaunpur was
conquered by Delhi, bringing an end to the Sultanate.
Item
JAUNPUR JAUNPUR COPPER FALS, IBRAHIM SHAH
1402-1440 VF $5.00
Item
JAUNPURx10 10 of the above JAUNPUR FALS OF
IBRAHIM SHAH
1402-1440 VF $35.00
TINY GOLD COIN OF
TRAVANCORE
This
tiny (9mm) gold Fannam is from the Indian Princely state of
Travancore. Travancore is located in the south-western corner
of India. The coin is attributed to the Rama Varma V
who reigned from 1880 to 1885. A botanist, the king
introduced the cultivation of tapioca and rubber to
Travancore. The design of the coin features a series of lines
and dots. One side supposedly represents a lion, the other a
boar. The coins are small enough that they could be carried
in a person's mouth. If attacked by robbers they could be
swallowed, and retrieved a day or two later.
Item TRAVANCORE-30 TRAVANCORE GOLD FANNAM
ca.1881 KM30 XF-AU
$39.00
COINS
OF THE INDIAN PRINCELY STATES
Though
the British controlled most of India prior to its independence in 1947,
many of the Indian states retained their right to issue
coins.
Most coins could only be used within the state they were issued and
there was little standardization of the coins or denominations issued
from state to state. The result was a bewildering array of coins, many
of which have limited mintages. We have assembled a collection of coins
from six different Indian native states. The set
includes
a square Paisafrom Bahawalpur from the 1920's; 1/4 Anna of
Gwalior that pictures the
Maharajah
Madho Rao
that was minted fom 1913 to 1917; 2 Pai from
Hyderabad
minted from 1911 to 1930; 1
Paisa from Jodhpur struck during World War II; 1 Dokdo from
Junagadh minted in 1909 dated 1945 in the Vima
Samvat calendar; amd an eight-sided
1
Anna from Mewar minted in 1943. All eight coins are
copper
or
bronze. Coins grade from Very Good to Very
Fine.
An identification guide is included with each set. Because of
the
difficulty in obtaining coins of the Indian States, we sometimes have
to vary the exact coins included in the set.
Item
INS-SET6 COINS FROM 6 DIFFERENT INDIAN
STATES
$22.50
COIN OF DUTCH
OCCUPIED FRENCH
INDIA
The
French East India Company took control and established a trading post
at Pondicherry on the south east coast of India in 1673. In
1693 the Dutch East India Company captured the town and controlled it
until 1699, when it was returned to the French by the Treaty of
Ryswick. The Dutch issued this undated bronze 1 Cash coin
during the brief six year period of Dutch control of Pondicherry. The
coin features a crude depiction of Kali, the Hindu Goddess of death,
destruction and disease on one side and Hindu legends on the
other.
Item IN-POND-DUTCH DUTCH PONDICHERRY 1 CASH
KM23 1693-98 VG-Crude
$15.00
THE END OF PORTUGUESE
INDIA
Portuguese
explorer Vasco da Gama first visited India in 1498. Portugal was the
first European nation to establish colonies in India, and for many
years enjoyed a profitable monopoly on European trade with
India. With the coming of the British and Dutch in the 17th
century, Portuguese power declined, until all that was left were three
minor outposts.. In 1961 India forcibly annexed
them. The copper-nickel 60 Centavos 1n 1 Escudo were struck
only two years: 1958 and 1959. Both coins have
similar designs, with the arms of Portugal on one side and the arms of
Portuguese India on the other. They are some of the last
coins of Portuguese India.
Item
IN-PORT-SET2 PORTUGUESE INDIA 60 CENTAVOS
& 1 ESCUDO
1958-59 KM32 & KM33 VF-XF
$6.00
LAST COIN OF
PORTUGUESE INDIA
Portuguese
explorer Vasco da Gama first visited India in 1498. Portugal soon
became the first European nation to establish colonies in India, and
for many years enjoyed a profitable monopoly on European trade with
India. With the coming of the British and Dutch in the 17th
century, Portuguese power declined, until all that was left were three
minor outposts on the west coast of India. In 1961, after
years of preaching non-violence, the Indian armed forces invaded these
last remaining outposts and forcibly annexed them, thus bringing an end
to this long series of colonial coins. We offer the 1961
Portuguese India 10 Centavos in Uncirculated condition. It
was the last coin produced before the Indian invasion. The
coin features the arms of Portuguese India on one side and the
denomination on the other.
Item
IN-PORT-10C PORTUGUESE INDIA 10 CENTAVOS
1961 KM30
UNC.
$7.00
BRITISH
EAST INDIA COMPANY COIN OF THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY
This copper 1 Cash coin was struck by
the British East India Company
from 1730’s to the 1750’s for use in their Madras Presidency.
The Madras Presidency controlled a vast territory encompassing much of
south-west India. The royally chartered but privately owned
stock company had its own army and exercised administrative control of
the region as well as minting its own coins. The appointed
company official in charge of the region was called a President, hence
the name “Presidency”. These small (8 - 10mm) coins have a
simple design, with the East India Company “bale mark” on one side and
the date on the other. Despite the simple design, not much
care was taken making the hand-struck coins, and in most examples the
last digit of the date is not visible. Those with a readable
date have a catalog value of $115.00. We have some that are
dated 1733, and some without the last digit of the date which we can
offer for much less.
Item
IN-MADRAS-1733
MADRAS 1 CASH, KM302,
DATED 1733, VF $55.00
Item IN-MADRAS-ND
MADRAS 1 CASH, KM302,
INCOMPLETE DATE, VF
$29.00
UNCIRCULATED BRITISH EAST INDIA
CO. RUPEE
STRUCK IN THE NAME OF MUGHAL EMPEROR
This
amazing Uncirculated silver rupee was one of the last hammer struck
coin by the Bengal Presidency of the British East India
Company. Though struck by the British East India Company, the
coin was struck in the name of Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.
The coin is dated both AH1229, which corresponds to 1813AD, and Year 49
of the reign of Shah Alam II, which corresponds to 1806. Though Shah
Alam II died in 1806, the coin continued to be struck from 1813 to
1819, always bearing
the same dates. The British East India Company continued to
strike coins in his name as he was well respected and coins in his name
were widely accepted and trusted. By the time the coin was
struck the British East India Company's Bengal Presidency controlled
most of north-east India and the Mughal Emperor was little more than a
figurehead. The coin was struck at the Banaras (now called
Varanasi) Mint.
Item IN-BENGAL41 EAST INDIA COMPANY-BENGAL 1
RUPEE KM41 AH1229 (1813AD) UNC.
$95.00
HIGH
GRADE PIE OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY BENGAL PRESIDENCY
Until
1835 the British East India Company ruled India through regions known
as Presidencies. Each Presidency issued its own coins. From
the Bengal Presidency we have this undated copper 1 Pie coin.
The design consists only of the denomination written in English,
Bengali, Persian and Hindi. The 16.5mm coin was struck at the
Calcutta mint from 1831 until 1835. It is Uncirculated,
though has picked up some toning over the last 180 or so years, so we
call it AU-UNC.
Item IN-PIE BRITISH EAST INDIA CO.-BENGAL 1
PIE
(1830-35) KM58 AU-UNC
$20.00
UNCIRCULATED
1/4 ANNA OF EDWARD VII FROM BRITISH INDIA
This
attractive Uncirculated bronze 1/4 Anna of India features
British monarch Edward VII. It bears both his titles of King (of the
United Kingdom) and Emperor (of India). The reverse includes the
denominationa and date within a wreath. The coin is dated
between 1906 and 1908 and is 25.3mm in diameter.
Item
IN-ED7-QTR BRITISH INDIA BRONZE 1/4 ANNA
EDWARD VII 1906-08 KM502
UNC.
$32.50
SILVER
2 ANNAS OF GEORGE V FROM BRITISH INDIA
This
silver 2 Annas coin of Emperor George V of India was struck only 6
years, from 1912 to 1917. George V is on the
obverse. The reverse has the denomination in spelled out in
English and Urdu within a wreath made of roses, thistles, shamrocks,
representing England, Scotland and Ireland. At the top of the
wreath is a lotus blossom symbolizing India. At the time India was
Great Britain's most important colony. It was also a period of
increased resistance to British rule. In 1918 the
small (15.4mm) and easily lost silver coin was replaced with a larger
copper-nickel coin.
Item
IN-2A BRITISH INDIA SILVER 2 ANNAS 1912-17
KM515 VG-F $4.50
TEA
STALL TOKEN
FROM INDIA
One
side of this unusual oblong 27.5mm x 17mm copper token has the
legends "
TEA STALL *
H.M. * LTD. INDORE", the other side depicts the
number "
4"
on a teacup. The token is attributed as a 4 Anna token issued
by Hukumchand Mills in Indore, India. The token was probably
used in the company canteen sometime between the 1930’s and
1950’s. Hukumchand Mills was a large cotton mill that went
bankrupt and closed down in 1991, owing wages and benefits to some 6000
workers. Since then the mill has been torn down. Attempts
have been made to sell the land to provide funds to pay the workers,
however disputes between various government agencies has prevented the
sale of the land. After more than a quarter of a century the
workers have still not
been paid and the case drags on in court.
Item IN-TEA
INDIA TEA STALL TOKEN, HUKUMCHAND MILLS, LTD.
INDORE. VG-Fine
$8.00
INDIA’S
FIRST DECIMAL COINS INCLUDES ODD SHAPES
India
introduced their first decimal coins in 1957. The coins were
initially called Naye Paise, or new Paise, to distinguish them from the
previous coins. In order to aid the many blind in the country, each
coin was distinctly different. This four coin set includes
the round 1 Naye Paisa, scalloped edge 2 Naye Paisa, the square 5 Naye
Paise, and the scalloped edge 10 Naye Paisa all dated 1957. The coins
have the denomination on one side and the lions from the Sarnath pillar
of Ashoka, which serves as the national emblem of India.
Item
IN-SET57 INDIA 4 COIN SET 1-10 NAYE PAISE,
1957
UNC.
$3.00
HUNDIS FROM INDIA
The Hundi is a financial instrument developed by the native bankers in
India. It can perform a variety of banking tasks.
Depending on how it is written it may act like a Bill of Exchange,
extension of credit, transfer of funds, or a travelers check. The
Indian government, seeing a lucrative source of revenue, required all
Hundis to be written on a special watermarked government form bearing a
tax imprint. We offer a set of two Hundi notes.
Included is a Hundi bearing a 2 Rupee tax imprint on a mostly blank
form that references another document, and a Hundi bearing a 1 Rupee
tax imprint that is on a pre-printed form for the Swadeshi Cotton Mills
Company Limited. The Hundis are approximately 220mm x 130mm (5.25” x
8.75”) and were issued in the 1970’s. It is an unusual financial
instrument that is rarely offered for sale.
Item
PM-HUNDI SET OF 2 INDIAN HUNDI NOTES: 1
& 2
RUPEES, CANCELLED $4.50
INDIA
COMMEMORATES INCOME TAXES!
This
circulating commemorative 5 Rupees dated 2010 commemorates the 150
Years of Income Tax in India. The Income Tax Department was
established in 1860. The coin depicts a bee hovering over a
lotus flower and ancient Indian philosopher, economist and royal
advisor Chanakya who said "
Ideally
governments should collect taxes
like a honey bee, which sucks just the right amount of honey from the
flower so that both can survive". The
obverse of
the coin depicts the ancient lion pillar of Ashoka. The coin
is Uncirculated, but is poorly struck as is typical of many modern
Indian coins. It is an unusual topic to commemorate.
Item IN-5R-TAX INDIA 5 RUPEES (2010) 150
YEARS OF INCOME TAX, Unc-Poor strike
$3.00
TIGERS ON INDIA BANK
COMMEMORATIVES
A
tiger standing in front of a palm tree are featured on each of these
four coins commemorating the "Platinum Jubilee" (75th anniversary) of
the Reserve Bank of India. The design is the seal of the bank, which
was based on the gold Mohur coin of the British East India
Company. The bank was founded in 1935 as a privately held
institution that acted as the central bank for India. It was
also the central bank for Burma until 1947.
Following India's independence, it was nationalized in 1949 and is now
held by the Indian government. It is the main monetary
authority in India, with responsibility for all currency issues,
management of foreign exchange, credit and interest rates. It
is the supervisor and lender of last resort of all Indian commercial
banks. Despite these vast powers, the coins it issued to
commemorate itself are poorly struck with weak or missing design
elements. It makes one wonder just how effective the Bank really is.
The four coin set includes the bi-metallic 10 Rupees, nickel-brass 5
Rupees, stainless steel 2 and 1 Rupees dated 2010. The 3 lions from the
ancient Pillar of Ashoka is on the obverse. Together the
coins catalog for $16.00, however our price is much less.
Item
IN-BANK INDIA 1, 2, 5 & 10 RUPEES
2010 RESERVE BANK OF INDIA KM385-388
UNC-weakly struck $7.50
60 YEARS OF
INDIA'S PARLIAMENT
India
issued two circulating commemorative coins to honor the 60th
anniversary of the first sitting of the Parliament of India:
a 27mm bimetallic 10 Rupees, and a 23mm nickel-brass 5
Rupees. Both 2012 dated coins have similar designs
featuring Parliament House on one side and the Lion capitol of
the Pillar of Ashoka on the other. Both coins are Uncirculated, though
may be a bit weakly struck.
Item
IN-PARLM INDIA 5 RUPEES & 10 RUPEES,
2012 60th ANNIVERSARY OF PARLIAMENT, UNC.
$6.00
INDIAN 5 RUPEES
HONOR MINT,
POLITICIAN & SWAMI
India
recently released three circulating 5 Rupee coins. The 60th
Anniversary of the Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint in honored on a 2012 dated 5
Rupees picturing the mint building. The original mint was
founded
by the British in 1757 in a building next to the infamous Black Hole in
old Fort William. The present mint, also known as the Alipore
Mint, was started in the 1930’s, but did not open until 1952, due to
delays caused by World War II. Motilal Nehru is portrayed on
a
2012 dated 5 Rupees commemorating the 150th Anniversary of his
birth. Nehru was an important leader in the Congress Party
and is
the patriarch of the Nehru-Gandhi family that has dominated Indian
politics for decades. The 150th Anniversary of the birth of
Swami
Vivekananda commemorated on this undated 5 Rupee bearing his
image. The coin lists his birth and death years: 1862 -
1902. He is considered a Patriotic Saint in India and his
birthday is celebrated as National Youth Day. He is credited
with
bringing awareness of Hindu philosophies and Yoga to the Western world
and helped revive Hinduism and Indian Nationalism within
India. All three coins 23mm nickel-bronze coins
feature the three lions from the ancient Pillar of Asoka on the obverse
Item
IN-MINT INDIA 5 RUPEES 2012 KOLKATA MINT,
UNC. $3.00
Item
IN-NEHRU12 INDIA 5 RUPEES 2012 MOTILAL
NEHRU,
UNC. out
Item
IN-SWAMI INDIA 5 RUPEES SWAMI
VIVEKANANDRA UNC. out
INDIA HONORS MAULANA
ABUL KALAM AZAD
Abul
Kalam Azad was a Muslim Indian scholar and a leader in the Indian
independence movement. He advocated religious harmony among
India’s religions and opposed the division of India and
Pakistan. After India gained independence in 1947, he served
as the nations first Education Minister until shortly before his death
in 1958. This undated Indian 5 Rupee coin commemorating the
125th anniversary of his birth was issued in October 2014. He is
depicted on the reverse. The obverse of the 23mm
nickel-bronze coin features the three lions from the ancient Pillar of
Asoka.
Item
IN-AZAD INDIA 5 RUPEES (2014) ABUL KALAM
AZAD, UNC. $3.00
INDIA
HONORS ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT
India
issued this 2016 dated 5 Rupee coin to commemorate the 150th
anniversary of the Allahabad High Court. The court was
established in Agra in 1866, making it one of the first high courts to
be established in India. In 1868 the court was moved to
Allahabad. The reverse of the coin depicts the center facade
of Allahabad High Court Building emerging from a book and the years
"1866 2016". The obverse of the 23mm nickel-bronze coin features the
three lions from the ancient Pillar of Asoka.
Item
IN-COURT INDIA 5 RUPEES 2016 ALLAHBAD HIGH
COURT, UNC.
$3.50
BI-METALLIC
2012 INDIA 10 RUPEE
This
bi-metallic 2012 dated 10 Rupees coin from India was struck at the
Noida mint. The mintmark is a dot below the date. Nodia is
short for the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority. It
is a modern planned city located near New Delhi that came into
administrative
existence in 1976. The obverse features the national emblem of the
three lions from the Pillar of Asoka. The Pillar of Asoka is
a sandstone monument from the third century BC. The reverse
of the coin features 10 rays, representing “connectivity and
information technology”. Beneath the rays is the new Rupee
symbol and the number 10. The coin is Uncirculated, but like
most modern Indian coins, may not be well struck.
Item
IN-10R-12 INDIA 10
RUPEES 2012(N) KM400, UNC.
$3.00
DAY
OF YOGA COMMEMORATED ON BI-METAL INDIAN 10 RUPEES
The
United Nations declared that June 21, 2015, the summer solstice, to be
the First International Day of Yoga. Yoga is an ancient Yoga is an
ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in
India. To commemorate the event India issued a bi-metallic 10
Rupees coin. The coin is dated June 21, 2015 and features the
International Day of Yoga emblem along with the legends "
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA"
and "
YOGA FOR HARMONY
& PEACE" in English and Hindi. The
standard 10 Rupee design featuring the ancient Pillar of Asoka is on
obverse. Because we received requests for multiple pieces from those
that wanted to
hand them out at their Yoga class, we now offer the coin in groups of
10 at a discounted price.
Item
IN-YOGA INDIA 10 RUPEES YOGA DAY, 2015
UNC. $4.00
Item
IN-YOGAx10 10 Pieces of INDIA 10 RUPEES YOGA
DAY, 2015
UNC. $29.75
INDIA
CELEBRATES NATIONAL ARCHIVES WITH BI-METALLIC COIN
India
recently released this 2016 dated bi-metallic 10 Rupee coin to
commemorate the 125th anniversary of its national archives. The
archives were founded in 1891 as the Imperial Records
Department. The coin depicts the National Archives
building in New Delhi on the reverse. The obverse of the 27mm
coin features the Lion Pillar of Ashoka and the denomination. The coin
is Uncirculated, but like most modern Indian coins, is poorly struck.
Item
IN-ARCHIEVE INDIA 10 RUPEES 2016 NATIONAL
ARCHIVES UNC.-poor strike $8.00
NEW
BI-METAL 10 RUPEES FROM INDIA
India recently released four new circulating bi-metallic 10 Rupee coins
- dated 2015. The following coins were released.
All 27mm bimetallic coins with the standard 3 headed lion pillar of
Ashoka obverse. The coins are poorly struck as is typical of
modern Indian coinage.
475th Anniversary of the
birth Maharana Pratap. He was the Rajput king of
Mewar who refused to submit to the Mughal emperor Akbar the
Great. He spent most of his reign, from 1572 to
1597 fighting against the Mughals. The coin depicts the
armored king holding a bow and a sword.
150th of the birth
Anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai, a lawyer who was active in
the Indian independence movement in the early 20th
century. He was also involved in the founding of
the Punjab National Bank and the Lakshmi Insurance Company.
He toured the United States from 1917 to 1920 advocating for Indian
independence. The coin features his portrait.
125th Anniversary of the
birth of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan who was a
philosopher and politician who was a Vice President of India from 1952
to 1967. He helped form a modern understanding of Hinduism in both
India and the west.
3rd India-Africa Forum
Summit which was a major Indian diplomatic outreach to
African nations held in New Delhi in October 2015. The coin
depicts the logo of the summit which features the overlapping maps of
Africa and India along with the face of an African lion overlapping an
Indian tiger.
Item
IN-10R-PRATAP INDIA 10 RUPEES 475th ANNIV.
OF MAHARANA
PRATAP 2015, UNC.-poor strike $6.00
Item
IN-10R-LAJPAT INDIA 10 RUPEES 150th ANNIV.
OF LALA
LAJPAT RAI, UNC.-poor strike
out
Item
IN-10R-RADHAK INDIA 10 RUPEES 125th ANNIV. OF
DR. S.RADHAKRISHNAN, 2015 UNC.-poor strike out
Item
IN-10R-AFRICA INDIA 10 RUPEES 3rd
AFRICA-INDIA SUMMIT, UNC.-poor strike
$4.00
THE RAMATANKA
(INDIAN TEMPLE TOKEN)
Ramatankas are a type of temple tokens that were used in
India between the mid-19th and mid-20th Century. The
privately minted tokens were sold or distributed at temples and
bazaars. They were often given as gifts and would be treasured by
families. Most are made from brass or silver-plated brass and
tend to be crudely engraved. The most common types featured a scene
from the ancient Hindu epoch poem called the Ramayana on the
obverse. It depicts Rama and his wife Sita, seated on a
platform (Durbar) holding court. To their right are their
sons Kusha and Lava. An attendant holding a parasol is on their
left. Beneath is Hanuman, the monkey god. The coins
often bear a false date, making some believe they are quite old. The date has nothing to do when the token was
actually struck, but instead has a numerical significance.
After
World War
II the use of the Rama Tankas died out.
Item
IN-RAMATANKA INDIA RAMATANKA TEMPLE TOKEN VF-crude $5.00
ANDAMAN
AND NICOBAR ISLANDS
COIN SET
Native wildlife is featured on this set of seven unofficial 2011
dated coins from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The territory,
located in the Indian Ocean, consists of 572 islands, of which just
38 are permanently inhabited. Denmark, Austria and
Britain all attempted to
colonize the islands.
Britain eventually turned it into a penal colony.
Japan occupied it in
World War
II. They are now a Union Territory of India.
Over the years the indigenous inhabitants
have been almost completely wiped out by disease, land
encroachments and punitive military expeditions. Most of the few
hundred that remain maintain a steadfast independence, refusing all
outside contact. The bi-metallic 20 Rupees pictures a Nautilus. The
bi-metallic 10 Rupees depicts a Dugong. An Indian Wild Boar is on
the 5 Rupees. A Coconut Crab is shown on the 2 Rupees. The 1 Rupee
has a Kuhl’s Flying Gecko. A Stork-billed Kingfisher is on the 50
Paisa and the Anadman clubtail butterfly is on the 25 Paise. The
arms of the islands is on the obverse of each coin. Only 10,000
sets were minted.
INDIVIDUAL COINS FROM THE ABOVE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR COIN SET:
Item
AND20R
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR IS. 20 RUPEE NAUTILUS BIMETALLIC,
2011
UNC. $12.00
Item
AND10R
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR IS. 10 RUPEE DUGONG BIMETALLIC,
2011
UNC. $10.00
Item
AND5R
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR IS. 5 RUPEE WILD BOAR, 2011 UNC.
$5.00
Item
AND2R
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR IS. 2 RUPEE COCONUT CRAB, 2011
UNC. $4.50
Item
AND50P
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR IS. 50 PAISA KINGFISHER, 2011
UNC. $3.00
Item
AND25P
ANDAMAN & NICOBAR IS. 25 PAISA BUTTERFLY, 2011
UNC. $3.00
BANGLADESH COIN
SET
This
three coin set includes all of the recent Bangladesh coins issued for
circulation: the 1, 2 and 5 Taka. All three coins
depict Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was one of the founding
fathers of Bangladesh and served as Premier until his assassination
in 1975. His daughter, Sheikh Hasina has been Prime Minister
since 2008. The reverse of the 1 and 2 Taka
features the national emblem, a stylized lotus blossom floating on
water, which is a fitting symbol for a nation that much of which is
barely above sea-level and floods regularly. The reverse of
the ten-sided 5 taka features the emblem of the national
bank. All three coins are steel.
Item BD-SET3
BANGLADESH 1, 2 & 5 TAKA, 2012-2013
KM31.2-KM33 UNC.
$4.00
ATTRACTIVE COIN
OF BHUTAN
FEATURES BUDDHIST SYMBOLS
This
attractive 1 Pice coin of Bhutan has an unusual design. One
side features four Buddhist symbols. The other side is
divided into nine sections featuring eight Buddhist symbols and the
name of the country in the Bhutanese language in the central
square. The 21.3mm undated bronze coin was struck in 1951 and
1955. The coin is Uncirculated.
Item BT-1P
BHUTAN 1 PICE (1951-1955) KM27 UNC.
$5.00
NEPAL
CELBRATES NEWSPAPER
In
2000 Nepal issued a circulating commemorative 1 Rupee commemorating
the 100th anniversary of the Gorkhapatra Newspaper. The paper
was the first to be established in Nepal. The 20mm brass coin features
an inscription within a “wreath” made up of 10 newspaper readers. The
obverse is the traditional Kingdom of Nepal emblem featuring various
Hindu symbols
Item NP-NEWS
NEPAL 1 RUPEE NEWSPAPER VS2057 = 2000AD
KM1139
UNC.
$3.00
NEPAL COIN
HONORS SCOUTING
Nepal
recently released this 2012 dated copper-nickel 50 Rupee coin
commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Scouting in Nepal. One
side of the coin depicts the Nepal Scout emblem. The other
side features Baden Powell Scout Peak. The peak, formerly known as
Urkema Peak, was renamed by the government of Nepal in 2007 to
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the world Scouting movement.
The peak, part of the Himalayas, stands 19,114 feet (5826m).
Item NP-SCOUTS
NEPAL 50 RUPEES 2012 NEPAL SCOUTS UNC.
$8.00
RECENT SRI LANKA COMMEMORATIVES
Sri Lanka recently released three commemorative 20 Rupee coins. They
are the highest denomination in circulation in that country.
The seven-sided 28mm coins are stuck in nickel-plated steel.
The 70th Anniversary of the Central Bank is commemorated on a 2020
issue depicting the bank's head office. It is a bit ironic that the
Central Bank commemorates itself on a new high denomination coin which
was needed due to the Bank's inability to control inflation.
A second 2020 20 Rupee coin was issued marking the 150th anniversary of
the Colombo Medical Faculty. The coin features the school's emblem and
"150". The 2021 20 Rupee commemorates the 150th anniversary
of its Ceylon's first census of population and housing. The
design includes the census logo and "150". The
coins have a common obverse that features a large numeral 20 and
inscriptions in Sinhala, Thamil and English.
LR-20R-BANK
SRI LANKA 20 RUPEES 2020 CENTRAL BANK
BU $5.00
LR-20R-MED
SRI LANKA 20 RUPEES 2021 COLOMBO MEDICAL FACULTY BU $5.00
LR-20R-CENSUS
SRI LANKA 20 RUPEES 2021 CENSUS
BU $5.00
FOR RELATED COINS OF THIS AREA PLEASE SEE:
AFGHANISTAN
COIN & CURRENCY PAGE
Need help to date
coins: Visit the Creounity Time Machine
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The Indo-Greeks descended from
Alexander the Great, who conquered
northern India in 326BC. They were the eastern most part of Hellenistic
culture, ruling the area around Afghanistan, Pakistan and north-western
India. They maintained Greek culture, religion and language,
incorporating it with elements of Indian culture and language.
Apollodotus II was one of the greatest Indo-Greek kings.
During his reign, from about 80 to 65BC he re-established much of the
glory and territory of the Indo-Greek kingdoms. After his
death the Indo-Greek kingdom fragmented and soon disappeared.
This silver drachm of Apollodotus II reflects both the Greek and Indian
culture. The obverse depicts the bust of the king with a
Greek legend that translates as "Of
Apollodotus the Great, Savior & Father loving King".
The reverse depicts Athena Alkidemos standing and has the legend in
Kharoshthi script that translates "Savior
King Appolodotus".
He obviously thought well of
himself. The coin is approximately 17mm in diameter. It is an
attractive and historic ancient silver coin from the farthest reaches
of Greek culture. 
The
Kushan Empire ruled the area from northern India through Afghanistan
into Central Asia in the first and second centuries AD. It
grew wealthy controlling trade centers on the Silk Road and on the
Indus River and had diplomatic relations with both Rome and
China. Until recently the actual name of its second emperor
was unknown. He was known only by the title on his coins
"Soter Megas", which translates as “Great Savior”. He thought
of himself as being so great, he did need to use his actual name. With
the discovery of a large stone tablet listing the names of the Kushan
rulers it is now known his name was Vima Takto who ruled from about 80
to 105AD. His bronze tetradrachm features a Greek style
diademed bust of the king on one side, and the king on horseback on the
other. It is an attractive, well-struck ancient coin. 
Sindh
(Sind) is located in what is now the south-eastern portion of
Pakistan. The Habbaris were Arab traders and merchants that
settled in Sindh in pre-Islamic times. Despite living in
India for hundreds of years and marrying locals, they maintained their
Arab identity, language and customs. By the mid 9th century
AD they were able to assert control over Sindh, paying only nominal
allegiance to the Abbasid Caliph. The coinage of the Habbarids of Sind
(also known as the Amirs of Sindh) consisted of small (10 to
11mm) silver Dammas (Dhammas) that feature Arabic inscriptions on both
sides. In 1026 Ghaznavid Sultan Mahmud conquered
Sindh. We are pleased to offer silver Dammas of two of the
Habbarid sultans of Sindh. Abdallah I, who ruled from about
884 to 913AD, and Ali, who ruled from about 973 to 987AD
The
Bull and Horseman Jital was introduced by the Hindu Kings in Kabul and
Ohind (now Afghanistan and Pakistan) in the 9th century. One
side featured a humped bull. The other side a man on a horse
holding a lance. The coins became the standard for much of
Afghanistan and northern India. It continued to be struck for
hundreds of years by neighboring and successive kingdoms. It gradually
become cruder and more debased as each generation would copy the design
from coins found in circulation. These Bull and Horseman
Jitals date from around the 10th to 11th century. They are
made of debased silver and feature crude line drawings of the bull and
horseman. I do not have the time or patience to do an exact
attribution so am letting them go cheap.
Jaunpur
was a powerful Sultanate in north-central India. Jaunpur was
established in 1349 by the Sultan of Delhi who later appointed his
daughter's lover the governor. In 1393 the governor
declared independence. Jaunpur reached its peak under Ibrahim
Shah, who reigned from 1402 to 1440. He attacked but was
unable to conquer Delhi to the west. His war with the Bengal Sultanate
to the east was only ended after diplomatic pressure from the Ming
Empire of China and Timurid Empire. Ibrahim Shah was a patron
of Islamic learning and established a number of colleges which produced
many scholarly works on Islamic theology. In 1480 Jaunpur was
conquered by Delhi, bringing an end to the Sultanate.
The
French East India Company took control and established a trading post
at Pondicherry on the south east coast of India in 1673. In
1693 the Dutch East India Company captured the town and controlled it
until 1699, when it was returned to the French by the Treaty of
Ryswick. The Dutch issued this undated bronze 1 Cash coin
during the brief six year period of Dutch control of Pondicherry. The
coin features a crude depiction of Kali, the Hindu Goddess of death,
destruction and disease on one side and Hindu legends on the
other. 
Portuguese
explorer Vasco da Gama first visited India in 1498. Portugal was the
first European nation to establish colonies in India, and for many
years enjoyed a profitable monopoly on European trade with
India. With the coming of the British and Dutch in the 17th
century, Portuguese power declined, until all that was left were three
minor outposts.. In 1961 India forcibly annexed
them. The copper-nickel 60 Centavos 1n 1 Escudo were struck
only two years: 1958 and 1959. Both coins have
similar designs, with the arms of Portugal on one side and the arms of
Portuguese India on the other. They are some of the last
coins of Portuguese India.
Portuguese
explorer Vasco da Gama first visited India in 1498. Portugal soon
became the first European nation to establish colonies in India, and
for many years enjoyed a profitable monopoly on European trade with
India. With the coming of the British and Dutch in the 17th
century, Portuguese power declined, until all that was left were three
minor outposts on the west coast of India. In 1961, after
years of preaching non-violence, the Indian armed forces invaded these
last remaining outposts and forcibly annexed them, thus bringing an end
to this long series of colonial coins. We offer the 1961
Portuguese India 10 Centavos in Uncirculated condition. It
was the last coin produced before the Indian invasion. The
coin features the arms of Portuguese India on one side and the
denomination on the other.
This copper 1 Cash coin was struck by
the British East India Company
from 1730’s to the 1750’s for use in their Madras Presidency.
The Madras Presidency controlled a vast territory encompassing much of
south-west India. The royally chartered but privately owned
stock company had its own army and exercised administrative control of
the region as well as minting its own coins. The appointed
company official in charge of the region was called a President, hence
the name “Presidency”. These small (8 - 10mm) coins have a
simple design, with the East India Company “bale mark” on one side and
the date on the other. Despite the simple design, not much
care was taken making the hand-struck coins, and in most examples the
last digit of the date is not visible. Those with a readable
date have a catalog value of $115.00. We have some that are
dated 1733, and some without the last digit of the date which we can
offer for much less.
This
amazing Uncirculated silver rupee was one of the last hammer struck
coin by the Bengal Presidency of the British East India
Company. Though struck by the British East India Company, the
coin was struck in the name of Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II.
The coin is dated both AH1229, which corresponds to 1813AD, and Year 49
of the reign of Shah Alam II, which corresponds to 1806. Though Shah
Alam II died in 1806, the coin continued to be struck from 1813 to
1819, always bearing
the same dates. The British East India Company continued to
strike coins in his name as he was well respected and coins in his name
were widely accepted and trusted. By the time the coin was
struck the British East India Company's Bengal Presidency controlled
most of north-east India and the Mughal Emperor was little more than a
figurehead. The coin was struck at the Banaras (now called
Varanasi) Mint.
Until
1835 the British East India Company ruled India through regions known
as Presidencies. Each Presidency issued its own coins. From
the Bengal Presidency we have this undated copper 1 Pie coin.
The design consists only of the denomination written in English,
Bengali, Persian and Hindi. The 16.5mm coin was struck at the
Calcutta mint from 1831 until 1835. It is Uncirculated,
though has picked up some toning over the last 180 or so years, so we
call it AU-UNC.
This
attractive Uncirculated bronze 1/4 Anna of India features
British monarch Edward VII. It bears both his titles of King (of the
United Kingdom) and Emperor (of India). The reverse includes the
denominationa and date within a wreath. The coin is dated
between 1906 and 1908 and is 25.3mm in diameter.
This
silver 2 Annas coin of Emperor George V of India was struck only 6
years, from 1912 to 1917. George V is on the
obverse. The reverse has the denomination in spelled out in
English and Urdu within a wreath made of roses, thistles, shamrocks,
representing England, Scotland and Ireland. At the top of the
wreath is a lotus blossom symbolizing India. At the time India was
Great Britain's most important colony. It was also a period of
increased resistance to British rule. In 1918 the
small (15.4mm) and easily lost silver coin was replaced with a larger
copper-nickel coin. 
One
side of this unusual oblong 27.5mm x 17mm copper token has the
legends "TEA STALL *
H.M. * LTD. INDORE", the other side depicts the
number "4"
on a teacup. The token is attributed as a 4 Anna token issued
by Hukumchand Mills in Indore, India. The token was probably
used in the company canteen sometime between the 1930’s and
1950’s. Hukumchand Mills was a large cotton mill that went
bankrupt and closed down in 1991, owing wages and benefits to some 6000
workers. Since then the mill has been torn down. Attempts
have been made to sell the land to provide funds to pay the workers,
however disputes between various government agencies has prevented the
sale of the land. After more than a quarter of a century the
workers have still not
been paid and the case drags on in court.
India
introduced their first decimal coins in 1957. The coins were
initially called Naye Paise, or new Paise, to distinguish them from the
previous coins. In order to aid the many blind in the country, each
coin was distinctly different. This four coin set includes
the round 1 Naye Paisa, scalloped edge 2 Naye Paisa, the square 5 Naye
Paise, and the scalloped edge 10 Naye Paisa all dated 1957. The coins
have the denomination on one side and the lions from the Sarnath pillar
of Ashoka, which serves as the national emblem of India. 
This
circulating commemorative 5 Rupees dated 2010 commemorates the 150
Years of Income Tax in India. The Income Tax Department was
established in 1860. The coin depicts a bee hovering over a
lotus flower and ancient Indian philosopher, economist and royal
advisor Chanakya who said "Ideally
governments should collect taxes
like a honey bee, which sucks just the right amount of honey from the
flower so that both can survive". The
obverse of
the coin depicts the ancient lion pillar of Ashoka. The coin
is Uncirculated, but is poorly struck as is typical of many modern
Indian coins. It is an unusual topic to commemorate.
A
tiger standing in front of a palm tree are featured on each of these
four coins commemorating the "Platinum Jubilee" (75th anniversary) of
the Reserve Bank of India. The design is the seal of the bank, which
was based on the gold Mohur coin of the British East India
Company. The bank was founded in 1935 as a privately held
institution that acted as the central bank for India. It was
also the central bank for Burma until 1947.
Following India's independence, it was nationalized in 1949 and is now
held by the Indian government. It is the main monetary
authority in India, with responsibility for all currency issues,
management of foreign exchange, credit and interest rates. It
is the supervisor and lender of last resort of all Indian commercial
banks. Despite these vast powers, the coins it issued to
commemorate itself are poorly struck with weak or missing design
elements. It makes one wonder just how effective the Bank really is.
The four coin set includes the bi-metallic 10 Rupees, nickel-brass 5
Rupees, stainless steel 2 and 1 Rupees dated 2010. The 3 lions from the
ancient Pillar of Ashoka is on the obverse. Together the
coins catalog for $16.00, however our price is much less.
India
issued two circulating commemorative coins to honor the 60th
anniversary of the first sitting of the Parliament of India:
a 27mm bimetallic 10 Rupees, and a 23mm nickel-brass 5
Rupees. Both 2012 dated coins have similar designs
featuring Parliament House on one side and the Lion capitol of
the Pillar of Ashoka on the other. Both coins are Uncirculated, though
may be a bit weakly struck. 
Abul
Kalam Azad was a Muslim Indian scholar and a leader in the Indian
independence movement. He advocated religious harmony among
India’s religions and opposed the division of India and
Pakistan. After India gained independence in 1947, he served
as the nations first Education Minister until shortly before his death
in 1958. This undated Indian 5 Rupee coin commemorating the
125th anniversary of his birth was issued in October 2014. He is
depicted on the reverse. The obverse of the 23mm
nickel-bronze coin features the three lions from the ancient Pillar of
Asoka.
India
issued this 2016 dated 5 Rupee coin to commemorate the 150th
anniversary of the Allahabad High Court. The court was
established in Agra in 1866, making it one of the first high courts to
be established in India. In 1868 the court was moved to
Allahabad. The reverse of the coin depicts the center facade
of Allahabad High Court Building emerging from a book and the years
"1866 2016". The obverse of the 23mm nickel-bronze coin features the
three lions from the ancient Pillar of Asoka.
This
bi-metallic 2012 dated 10 Rupees coin from India was struck at the
Noida mint. The mintmark is a dot below the date. Nodia is
short for the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority. It
is a modern planned city located near New Delhi that came into
administrative
existence in 1976. The obverse features the national emblem of the
three lions from the Pillar of Asoka. The Pillar of Asoka is
a sandstone monument from the third century BC. The reverse
of the coin features 10 rays, representing “connectivity and
information technology”. Beneath the rays is the new Rupee
symbol and the number 10. The coin is Uncirculated, but like
most modern Indian coins, may not be well struck.
The
United Nations declared that June 21, 2015, the summer solstice, to be
the First International Day of Yoga. Yoga is an ancient Yoga is an
ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in
India. To commemorate the event India issued a bi-metallic 10
Rupees coin. The coin is dated June 21, 2015 and features the
International Day of Yoga emblem along with the legends "INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA"
and "YOGA FOR HARMONY
& PEACE" in English and Hindi. The
standard 10 Rupee design featuring the ancient Pillar of Asoka is on
obverse. Because we received requests for multiple pieces from those
that wanted to
hand them out at their Yoga class, we now offer the coin in groups of
10 at a discounted price.
India
recently released this 2016 dated bi-metallic 10 Rupee coin to
commemorate the 125th anniversary of its national archives. The
archives were founded in 1891 as the Imperial Records
Department. The coin depicts the National Archives
building in New Delhi on the reverse. The obverse of the 27mm
coin features the Lion Pillar of Ashoka and the denomination. The coin
is Uncirculated, but like most modern Indian coins, is poorly struck.
Ramatankas are a type of temple tokens that were used in
India between the mid-19th and mid-20th Century. The
privately minted tokens were sold or distributed at temples and
bazaars. They were often given as gifts and would be treasured by
families. Most are made from brass or silver-plated brass and
tend to be crudely engraved. The most common types featured a scene
from the ancient Hindu epoch poem called the Ramayana on the
obverse. It depicts Rama and his wife Sita, seated on a
platform (Durbar) holding court. To their right are their
sons Kusha and Lava. An attendant holding a parasol is on their
left. Beneath is Hanuman, the monkey god. The coins
often bear a false date, making some believe they are quite old. The date has nothing to do when the token was
actually struck, but instead has a numerical significance.
After World War
II the use of the Rama Tankas died out.
This
three coin set includes all of the recent Bangladesh coins issued for
circulation: the 1, 2 and 5 Taka. All three coins
depict Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was one of the founding
fathers of Bangladesh and served as Premier until his assassination
in 1975. His daughter, Sheikh Hasina has been Prime Minister
since 2008. The reverse of the 1 and 2 Taka
features the national emblem, a stylized lotus blossom floating on
water, which is a fitting symbol for a nation that much of which is
barely above sea-level and floods regularly. The reverse of
the ten-sided 5 taka features the emblem of the national
bank. All three coins are steel.
This
attractive 1 Pice coin of Bhutan has an unusual design. One
side features four Buddhist symbols. The other side is
divided into nine sections featuring eight Buddhist symbols and the
name of the country in the Bhutanese language in the central
square. The 21.3mm undated bronze coin was struck in 1951 and
1955. The coin is Uncirculated.
In
2000 Nepal issued a circulating commemorative 1 Rupee commemorating
the 100th anniversary of the Gorkhapatra Newspaper. The paper
was the first to be established in Nepal. The 20mm brass coin features
an inscription within a “wreath” made up of 10 newspaper readers. The
obverse is the traditional Kingdom of Nepal emblem featuring various
Hindu symbols 
Nepal
recently released this 2012 dated copper-nickel 50 Rupee coin
commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Scouting in Nepal. One
side of the coin depicts the Nepal Scout emblem. The other
side features Baden Powell Scout Peak. The peak, formerly known as
Urkema Peak, was renamed by the government of Nepal in 2007 to
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the world Scouting movement.
The peak, part of the Himalayas, stands 19,114 feet (5826m).
