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Indrapura Half Kupang. Help needed.

Started by mnfadzlyaj, April 07, 2013, 08:38:06 PM

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mnfadzlyaj



My recent gold coin from Indrapura.

Indrapura Half Kupang

OBV: "Munawar Shah"
REV: "Al Adil"

Diameter: 6.5mm
Weight:

unlisted - very rare (type 1 line border)

ref: http://malay-coins.tripod.com/indrapura.htm



If possible and available, I need more information about this coin. Thanks!

Figleaf

A quick search in my library gave me only negative information. Not in Scholten (no surprise) not in Netscher and Van der Chijs. The style of the coin reminds me of the gold mas of Acheh. Saran Singh shows a good collection in his chapter Foreign coins used in the Malay peninsula and Borneo; C. Gold coins of the kingdom of Pasai and Acheh, Sumatera. Note the mas of sultan Calah ad-Din (1530-1537), itself inspired by the mas of the sultans of Pasai.

There is another trail leading to Acheh. On the site you linked to is a gold coin mentioning Ali ibn Munawar Shah, that is again similar to your coin. Ali ibn Munawar may be considered as the first sultan of Acheh (including Indrapura)

I found a similar coin and description here, indicating that at least one collector from Indonesia has it. I also found that Munawar shah's full name is Sultan Munawar Shah ibn al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Ala ud-din 'Inayat Shah (1490-1497). There must have been a second sultan of Acheh by the name Munawar, as there are coins in the name of Sultan Ala ad-Din Ri'ayat Shah ibn Munawar Shah (1585-1589). However, in the 16th century, the style of Acheh coins had changed.

Summing it up: Munawar shah, sultan of Indrapura did exist, but there is also a Munawar shah, sultan of Acheh. The coin is not known by older writers (if NvdC does not mention it, it was not in the collection of the "Bataviaasch Genootschap"). In fact, they don't mention a coin for either Munawar shah. In principle, this is a discovery coin. In practice, Indonesia is one of the world's largest sources of fake and fantasy coins, often of surprisingly good quality. The main auction houses are not very particular about fakes and fantasies either. Be very careful when you buy.

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.