COINS OF INDIA, PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH, NEPAL & BHUTAN
FROM ANCIENT TIMES TO THE PRESENT

AFFORDABLE EARLY ANCIENT SILVER COIN

This is one of the most affordable early ancient silver coins available.  It was struck from about 600BC to 327BC in the area of northern Pakistan and north-eastern Afghanistan.  Some references attribute the coin to the region of Gandhara Janapada, while others attribute it to Taxila, which was the major city in that region.  One side of the slightly concave coin has the six petaled Taxila "flower" design that was used on most coins of the region at that time.  The other side is blank.  The coin is approximately 12 to 14mm in diameter. It is likely the coins were first struck shortly before the region was invaded by Persian emperor Darius the Great in 518BC.  The coins continued to be issued under Persian rule, probably until Alexander the Great conquered the region in 327BC.  The coin is denominated as 1/8 Santamanas. 

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ANCIENT BENT-BAR COIN OF INDIA

This unusual bent-bar Satamana is one of the earliest coins of India.  It is believed to have been issued by the Kuru and Panchala realms in north-central India between about 450BC and 350BC.  The thick, slightly bent billon (low grade silver) are approximately 22 to 24mm long, 11 to 14mm wide and about 3mm thick.  A crude seven-armed “taxila” symbol is on either end on the concave side of the bar, the convex side is blank.  The coins are modeled after the silver Taxila and Gandhara bent bar coins used in what is now Pakistan.  It is an interesting and affordable example of a very early coin.

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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.

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INDO-SCYTHIAN TETRADRACHM OF APSAVARMA

The Indo-Scythians migrated from central Asia into what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan, taking territory from the Indo-Greeks They adopted many aspects of Greek culture as well as adopting Hindu and Buddhist influences.  This 20mm billon Tetradrachm was issued by Apavarma in the city of Taxila-Sirskuh.  Aspvarma ruled the area around what is now the Pakistan-Afghanistan border from about 5 to 15AD (some sources place it as 15 to 45AD). It is likely he was subjected by Indo-Parthian king Gondophares as he adopted the title strategos (viceroy).  It depicts the king on horseback on one side and Pallas Athena on the other.

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ELEPHANT ON ANCIENT SATAVAHANA COIN

An elephant is depicted on obverse of this ancient Karshapana of the Satavahana (Andhra) Empire. At its peak the empire controlled most of central and southern India.  The reverse depicts the Ujjain symbol, also known as the Satavahana symbol. The symbol comprises of four circles attached to the ends of the bars of a cross.  The coin was issued by the early Satakarni dynasty between about 30 AD and 107AD.  The Satavahana Empire ruled most of central and southern India and engaged in trade with the Roman Empire. The coin is struck in a copper and lead alloy called potin.

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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. 

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SILVER DRACHM OF THE PALAS OF BENGAL

The Pala Dynasty arose in Bengal India in the mid-eighth century after a period of anarchy.  They were astute diplomats, military conquerors and scholars.  They established and promoted universities, built grand temples and monasteries, their missionaries established Buddhism in Tibet, their army was noted for its corps of war elephants and it had an extensive navy.  These silver Drachms of the Palas were struck during a period of dynastic decline between about 850 and 950AD.  The designs of the coins are based on the  Sasanian Drachm, which had not been stuck for hundreds of years. Each generation created new coins by copying the designs of the crudely made coins already found in circulation.  One side had the head of the king.  The other side had a fire altar. By the time the Palas came to power the coiners had no concept of what the original coins looked like, resulting in a design that bears little resemblance to the original.  Every coin is different, and every coin is crude.

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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

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1000 YEAR OLD COIN OF RAJA RAJA CHOLA

Raja Raja ruled the Chola Empire from about 985 to 1014AD.  He greatly expanded his realm to control southern India, northern Sri Lanka and the Maldives.  His powerful navy extended his influence as far as Malaysia and Indonesia.  This copper Massa (also called a Kasu) features a crude depiction of the king standing on one side and the king seated on the other. Some sources call the crude line drawing the "octopus man" or the "monkey man". It is a moderately priced, thousand year old coin from a once vast, but now forgotten empire.

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ANCIENT SILVER COIN OF INDIA WITH A PHALLIC SYMBOL
OR IS IT HEAVEN AND HELL?

There is debate among numismatists concerning the meaning of the design of this unusual coin.  This clear, well-struck silver coin was issued by the Chalukya Empire in the Gujarat region of western India around 1000 AD.  The coin is generally referred to as a Gadhaiya Paisa or a silver Drachm.  The design appears to be loosely based on the  Sasanian Drachm of hundreds of years earlier. The original coin was a thin half-dollar sized coin depicting the king on one side and a fire altar on the other.   Each generation of coin engraver copied designs from coins in circulation, without seeing the original design or knowing what it was.  Over time the coin evolved into a thick dime sized coin and the design took on new meanings. Some claim that what was the head of the king turned into a phallic symbol (so could you call the king a dick-head?)  Others claim  the coin is a Zoroastrian portrayal of hell and heaven.  Hell is represented shown by the soul suspended head downward, with a spike driven through the eye, surrounded by snakes and demons.  The other side represents heaven. The lines and dots on the other side represent the sun, moon, stars and the Chinwad Bridge which souls must cross to enter heaven.  Either way it is an unusual and reasonably priced ancient silver coin.

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SHAH JAHAN, BUILDER OF THE TAJ MAHAL

Shah Jahan ruled the Mughal Empire of India from 1628 to 1658.  His court was noted for its great pomp and splendor.  His jewel collection was the finest in the world.  He engaged in massive construction projects, first by rebuilding much of his capital city of Agra, then he moved the capital to Delhi where he built the huge Red Fort as well as numerous mosques.  He is most remembered for building the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum for one of his three wives.  Despite all this glory, he was overthrown by his son, who kept him in prison until his death in 1666.  This thick, somewhat irregular rectangular or square copper 1 Fulus was struck at the Ujjain Mint for Shah Jahan.  It is a crude coin from a spectacular Mughal Emperor.

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DEBASED GOLD STATER FROM HINDU KASHMIR

OLD COPPER COIN OF MUSLIM KASHMIR

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INEXPENSIVE GOLD COIN FROM COCHIN, INDIA 

Cochin is an ancient trading port located near the southern tip of India.  It traded with the Romans in ancient times. Vasco da Gama set up a trading center in Cochin in 1502.   Over the years control of the region changed hands many times.  These tiny gold fannams were produced in Cochin from about 1795 to 1850, regardless of who was in control. The coins were popular with the natives as it allowed even the poor to be able to hoard gold. The coins are about 7 to 9mm in diameter and weigh between about .3 and .4 grams.   The design consists of a series of lines and dots.  It is one of the least expensive gold coins available today.

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EDWARD VIII COIN OF JODHPUR

Edward VIII became King of Great Britain and Emperor of India on January 20, 1936 upon the death of his father, George V.  He abdicated on December 11 of the same year in order to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice divorced American woman.  Though Great Britain did not issue any coins of Edward VIII, the Indian state of Jodhpur issued this copper 1/4 Anna in the name of Edward VIII and Maharaja Umaid Singh.  The thick copper coin is approximately 19mm in diameter. It is an interesting coin from of one of the shortest reigning monarchs in British history.

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ONLY CURRENCY OF SAYLA

Sayla (Sayala) was a small (222 sq.mi., 575 sq.km.) princely state in western India. It never issued coins.  In 1941, in order to help relieve the coin shortage in India brought on by World War II, it issued its only piece of currency.  The uniface 1 Pice note features the state's coat of arms.  The 56 x 30mm note is printed on thin cardboard.  It is a scarce, World War II local issue of India.

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PUVEERA TOKEN FROM TANJORE  

Tanjore, now known as Thanjavur, is a city in south India.  It did not have the authority to issue coins.  In the late 19th or early 20th century it issued these small copper Puveera tokens, apparently to help carry on commerce during an important local festival. 

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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 currently includes a square Paisa from Bahawalpur from the 1920's;  1/4 Anna of Gwalior that pictures the Maharajah Madho Rao; a 2 Pai coin from Hyderabad minted from 1911 to 1930; 1 Paisa from Jodhpur struck during World War II;  an eight-sided 1 Anna from Mewar minted in 1943; and a small 1 Cash coin from Travencore that was minted from 1928 until 1949.  All eight coins are copper or bronze.  Coins grade from Very Good to Uncirculated.   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.

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RARE DUTCH INDIA DUIT DEPICTS KALI

The Dutch took Negapatnam, a port city in south-east India, from the Portuguese in 1658.  It served as the capital of the Dutch East India Companies operations in southeast India from 1690 until it was conquered by the British in 1784. In 1695 the Dutch mint in Negapatnam struck these crude, undated, copper Duits for use in southeast India and Ceylon.  One side has a crude depiction of the Goddess Kali, the Goddess of death, destruction and disease.  The other side has the name of the city in Tamil.  The coin is about 13mm to 14mm in diameter.  Coins of Dutch India are difficult to find.

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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. 

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OLD 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. We are pleased to offer the following older coins of Portuguese India.  The copper 1/8 Tanga of Portuguese Luiz I was struck only 3 years: 1881,1884 and 1886.  The king is pictured on the obverse and a crown and denomination on the reverse.   From King Carlos I we offer the bronze 1/8 Tanga and 1/2 Tanga.  Both coins have the same design with the king on the obverse and the Portuguese arms on the reverse. The coins were struck only two years; 1901 and 1903 and the dates are in roman numerals. 

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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.

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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.

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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.

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UNCIRCULATED OLD COINS OF BRITISH INDIA

From 1877 until India gained independence in 1947 the King or Queen of England also held the title of Emperor or Empress of India.  We are pleased to offer coins of each of the four Emperors of India that issued portrait coins (none were issued for Edward VIII).  The coins all have similar designs, with a portrait of the monarch on the obverse and the denomination and date on the reverse. From Queen Victoria is a beautiful silver Rupee, dated in the last years of her reign; 1900 or 1901, in Uncirculated condition. The 30.8mm coin is struck in .917 fine silver.  The Edward VII bronze 1/4 Anna was issued only from 1906 until his death in 1910.  From George V is a bronze 1/12 Anna dated from 1912 to 1936.  From George VI is a square, World War II era, 1/2 Anna dated 1942 struck in a nickel-brass alloy at the Bombay (Mumbai) Mint. All four coins are Uncirculated.

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HINDU TEMPLE TOKENS (RAMA TANKAS)

A variety of temple tokens, commonly known as Rama Tankas, were made 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, holding court (Durbar).  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, which 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. These silver plated tokens were probably struck between 1920 and 1940 and are approximately 28mm in diameter. The  tokens are crudely struck. They show minimal wear, though may have a bit of green caused by the underlying brass. They are unusual though little known though highly collectible pieces. We have the following major types of silver-plated brass Rama Tankas depicting Rama and Sita on the obverse and various reverses: 

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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INDIA CELEBRATES THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

India celebrated its hosting of the 2010 Commonwealth Games held in Delhi with these commemorative 2 and 5 Rupee coins.  One side features the logo of the Games, the other features the features three lions from the Pillar of Asoka.  The games drew 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competing in 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games ever.  It was also the most expensive costing over $2 billion, substantially above its original budget of $307 million.  Despite apprehension in the weeks leading up to the game due slow pace in completing the facilities the Games were well received and closed on a positive note

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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:

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CURRENT BANGLADESH COIN SET

This three coin set includes all of the current 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.

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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.

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BUDDHIST SYMBOLS ON MODERN BHUTAN COINS

Bhutan is a small, isolated kingdom tucked between Tibet and India.  It is a peaceful place, where the king measures his countries' progress by its Gross National Happiness rather than its Gross National Product. The nation’s rich Buddhist heritage is reflected in this 1979 four-coin set. Though dated almost 40 years ago, they along with Indian Rupees, are the current coins in circulation.  The nickel-plated steel 1 Ngultrum features "the wheel of law" on one side and eight Buddhist symbols on the other  The brass-plated steel 25 Chetrums features a pair of "golden fish".  The eight Buddhist symbols are on one side of the bronze 10 Chetrums while a shell is on the other.  The bronze 5 Chetrums portrays the first coin of Bhutan, the 19th century Deb Rupee. This is a fascinating set from a distant and little-known land.

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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  

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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).  

Also see:
100th ANNIVERSARY OF SCOUTING SILVER COIN FROM PORTUGAL

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NEPAL CELEBRATES JUNIOR RED CROSS WITH A COLORED COIN 

In March 2015 Nepal released a 100 Rupee coin commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Nepal Junior Red Cross Society.  The 29mm copper-nickel colored coin features a red cross on one side and Mount Everest on the other.  The coin is dated VS2071 which corresponds to 2014-2015 AD.  Founded in 1965 as a wing of the Nepal Red Cross Society, the Nepal Junior Red Cross has some 800,000 members in almost 3,500 circles spread throughout the country. Their training  proved valuable in the aftermath of the recent earthquae.  The coin is Uncirculated, though may have some toning due to the way the Nepal mint handles coins.

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SRI LANKA CELEBRATES 150th ANNIVERSARY OF COMMERCIAL TEA PRODUCTION

In July 2017 Sri Lanka released a circulating 10 Rupee commemorating the 150th Anniversary of that nation's commercial tea production.   The coin was requested by the Sri Lanka Tea Board.  It features the 150th Anniversary logo on the obverse.  The logo includes the lion and sword from Sri Lanka's arms and the legend "CEYLON TEA SYMBOL OF QUALITY".  The country changed its name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka, however the Tea Board decided to keep using Ceylon for marketing purposes.  The standard 10 Rupee reverse is used on the coin and includes the denomination and name of the country in Sinhala, Tamil and English. The eleven-sided 26.4mm chromium steel coin was struck at the Kremnica mint in Slovakia with a mintage of 5 Million pieces.  Though experimental tea plantings were done in Ceylog\n as early as 1824, coffee was the country's main export crop.  The first commercial tea plantings and exports did not come until 1867.  Coffee-rust was discovered on the island in 1869 and by the 1880's it destroyed most of the coffee trees.  Corporations purchased the ruined farms, created vast estates and replanted them with tea. Soon tea became the nation's main export crop.  Today Sri Lanka is one of the world's top tea exporters and is noted the high quality of its tea. 

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SRI LANKA HONORS SIGNAL CORPS

Sri Lanka issued this 2018 circulating commemorative 10 Rupee coin for the 75th anniversary of their Signal Corps.  The Signal Corps, founded in 1943 during World War II.  Today it provides military communications, information technology and electronic warfare support for the Sri Lankan Army.  The coin depicts Mercury, the emblem of the corps, standing in front of a globe of the world.  The denomination is on the reverse.  The 24.4 mm coin is struck in stainless steel.

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FOR RELATED COINS OF THIS AREA PLEASE SEE:

AFGHANISTAN COIN & CURRENCY PAGE

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Need help to date coins:  Visit the Creounity Time Machine

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