Nawanagar, AE Dhinglo / 1 1/2 Dokdo, VS1956 (1899), Jaswant Singh, KM# 26.

Started by PeaceBD, May 18, 2017, 03:54:50 PM

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PeaceBD

Nawanagar, AE Dhinglo / 1 1/2 Dokdo, VS1956 (1899), Jaswant Singh,  KM# 26. A very rare coin especially in this state of preservation. I would appreciate any help in reading the Gujarati legend.



Thanks
Bhushan

asm

"It Is Better To Light A Candle Than To Curse The Darkness"

PeaceBD

Quote from: asm on May 18, 2017, 04:17:44 PM
Excellent acquisition. These are rare to find.
Thanks a lot Amit. Any help with reading the legend? I can normally read Gujarati if the alphabets are clear. But I cannot figure out this one.

asm

I missed your query in the first instance, sorry.

The right image reads:

(from around 9/ 10 O'Clock till 3 O'Clock) anti-clockwise: દોડ દોકડો - (1 1/2 Dokdo)  શા: (for Samvat) ૧૯૫૬ (1956).
In central circle the value in Gujarati - ૧ll (1.1/2)

The left Image reads:
(from around 11 O'Clock till 5 O'Clock) clockwise: જામ શ્રી જસાજી. Jam Shri (one letter is not clear) Jassaji with a Katar in the central circle.

Amit
"It Is Better To Light A Candle Than To Curse The Darkness"

asm

Though state mints were ordered closed in 1893 (before VS 1949) this issue (a one off one year issue) is intriguing. Why would a ruler issue coins - that too for just one year a few years after the mint was closed.

One suggestion that has come up during my discussions with various friends is the possibility that this was a emergency issue during the great Famine of 1900. It is likely that there was a severe shortage of copper (used for daily needs of the populace) which the local ruler (with or without the permission of the British overlords) minted to mitigate the problems of the locals - just like the later World War emergency issues.

Amit
"It Is Better To Light A Candle Than To Curse The Darkness"

PeaceBD

Quote from: asm on May 18, 2017, 05:16:29 PM
Though state mints were ordered closed in 1893 (before VS 1940) this issue (a one off one year issue) is intriguing. Why would a ruler issue coins - that too for just one year a few years after the mint was closed.

One suggestion that has come up during my discussions with various friends is the possibility that this was a emergency issue during the great Famine of 1900. It is likely that there was a severe shortage of copper (used for daily needs of the populace) which the local ruler (with or without the permission of the British overlords) minted to mitigate the problems of the locals - just like the later World War emergency issues.

Amit
Quote from: asm on May 18, 2017, 05:08:19 PM
I missed your query in the first instance, sorry.

The right image reads:

(from around 9/ 10 O'Clock till 3 O'Clock) anti-clockwise: દોડ દોકડો - (1 1/2 Dokdo)  શા: (for Samvat) ૧૯૫૬ (1956).
In central circle the value in Gujarati - ૧ll (1.1/2)

The left Image reads:
(from around 11 O'Clock till 5 O'Clock) clockwise: જામ શ્રી જસાજી. Jam Shri (one letter is not clear) Jassaji with a Katar in the central circle.

Amit
Amit, thanks again for your help. That is some very interesting bit of information and most likely why these coins are so hard to find.

Bhushan

Figleaf

I can easily imagine the scenario in which a famine leads to mintage of famine tokens, as other famine tokens are known. However, I wonder why a ruler would run the risk of striking banned coins, when he could just as well have struck famine tokens?

I propose as an alternative theory that this is an error date.

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

asm

Quote from: Figleaf on May 23, 2017, 10:25:14 AM
I can easily imagine the scenario in which a famine leads to mintage of famine tokens, as other famine tokens are known. However, I wonder why a ruler would run the risk of striking banned coins, when he could just as well have struck famine tokens?

I propose as an alternative theory that this is an error date.

Peter
Peter, I would not buy the error date theory as all denominations issued and they are many (from 1/2 Dokda to 3 Dokda) all have the same date. It is possible that the ruler sought and was granted permission to mint a short run since neighbouring Kutch had been minting coppers. If the ruler was in the good books of the Governor General, it is likely. ..... Ratlam & Dungarpur minted such one off issued at the time of WW II.

Amit
"It Is Better To Light A Candle Than To Curse The Darkness"

MORGENSTERNN

Quote from: asm on May 18, 2017, 05:16:29 PM
Though state mints were ordered closed in 1893 (before VS 1940)

Hello,
Did you get a source with the list of the closed mints ?
Thank you

asm

Quote from: MORGENSTERNN on May 23, 2017, 11:36:12 PM
Did you get a source with the list of the closed mints ?
The list does exist but I have not been able to lay my hands on it. However, the information is mentioned in various texts including the Gazetteers.

Amit
"It Is Better To Light A Candle Than To Curse The Darkness"

asm

Quote from: Figleaf on May 23, 2017, 10:25:14 AMI propose as an alternative theory that this is an error date.

Peter, the alternative theory does not hold since the last copper coins of this state were dated VS 1943 (1886 AD) which is few years prior to the the last date seen on coins of some other states which is VS 1949 or 1893 AD. Also to be noted is the fact that the ruler till VS 1951 was Jam Vibhaji who was succeeded by Jam Jassaji in VS 1951. Silver coins of Navanagar are found till VS 1950 (late 1883 AD) when all mints excepting a few were forced to stop minting.

The coins of Jam Jassaji are VS 1956 (1900 AD) -  the year of the sever famine in India and are dated almost 6 years after he sat on the throne. So, the theory that these could be commemorative issues also can be discarded. The only plausible explanation seems to be the emergency issue due to shortages faced because of the famine - at best, may be money given as payments from famine relief works.

Amit

PS: I have posted a 2 Dokda of this series which has in all 5 denominations - 1/2 Dokda (or Trambiyo), 1 Dokda (the most difficult to find), 1 1/2 Dokda (Dhinglo), 2 Dokda and 3 Dokda.
"It Is Better To Light A Candle Than To Curse The Darkness"

asm

Bringing up an old thread since I found some information.
From Royalark.net:

1895 - 1906 H.H. Maharajadhiraj Jam Shri Jaswantsinhji Vibhaji Jadeja [Jasaji Sahib], Jam Sahib of Nawanagar. b. at Jamnagar, 11th October 1882, younger son of H.H. Maharajadhiraj Maharaja Jam Shri Sir Vibhaji Ranmalsinhji Jadeja, Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, KCSI, by his morganatic wife, Ba Shri Janbai Kunverba Sahib, educ. Rajkumar Coll., Rajkot. Recognised as Heir Apparent by special dispensation of the Government of India, April 1885. Succeeded on the death of his father, 28th April 1895. Ascended the gadi, at the Durbargarh, Jamnagar, 10th May 1895. Reigned under a Council of Regency until he came of age. Invested with full ruling powers, at Jamnaar, 19th March 1903. He d.s.p. from typhoid, at Rajkot, 14th August 1906 (crem. at Jamnagar).

If we look closely at the dates, the state was in 1900 governed by a Council of Regency until 19th March 1903. So now the question arises - who issued these coins? Is something missing in here? Were these coins issued in 1903 AD and not as the dates mentioned on them (less likely) or were they issued in VS 1956 (as mentioned on the coin) which is 1900 AD - the time Jaswant Sinh ji attained adulthood and would normally have been given the reign of the state and these are actually Nazarana or presentation issues (which were permitted by the authorities) - but then why not in Gold or Silver. It is not that the state was a small or a poor state - may be keeping in mind the famine and not make it look extravagant?

Any views or suggestions welcome.

Amit
"It Is Better To Light A Candle Than To Curse The Darkness"

Figleaf

Enlightening research. I like the idea of the coins having been issued for the coming of age of the ruler, but why would they have to be Nazarana? Other coin series are said to have been playthings at the court. It would have been a good excuse if the British would have objected to the issue also and yet it would have been a good and respectful souvenir issue.

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