Kutch, KM 53, Kori SE 1882 (1825 AD)

[Rangnath]

Km 53, the one Kori was minted during the reign of Raja Shri Desalji, 1818 to 1830.  The date is off the flan.  The Nagari letters read Raja Shri D.  Sounds like a rapper's name.  The coin is beautifully round and well struck.

Question for Aidan:

Was Kutch a registered Feudal state of the British at the time of minting?

richie

[Figleaf]

The bad news is that there are still characters I have been unable to read, the good news is that with the help of the reconstructed die fron Richard Bright, I have been able to read much.

The top line on the left picture is badishah gazi (the victorious shah), the second line is Muhamad Akbar II (it looks like they used a "Kutch" type 2). The bottom line should be RA O SRI DE (SA L JI) - the part in brackets is off the flan - Raja Sri Desalji (the second), whose official name and title is of course His Highness Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Shri Daisulji II Jadeja Sahib Bahadur, Rao of Kutch. I have learned that the gentleman with the long name had eight wives, two sons and a daughter (go figure).

The only characters of the top line on the right picture I have figured out are Bhuj (the capital of Kutch). On the bottom line is a katar pointing left and sanat 1882 (year 1882 of the Samvat era, which corresponds to 1825 AD).

Great puzzle. Beats Sudoku

Peter

[Rangnath]

thanks for the run down.  I should have read it "Rao" of course.  And thanks for the date!

As for the 8 wives, two sons and a daughter:  depending on how many moms there were in the harem, I think this points to Rao infertility and at least one adulteress.     

Richie

[BC Numismatics]

Km 53, the one Kori was minted during the reign of Raja Shri Desalji, 1818 to 1830.  The date is off the flan.  The Nagari letters read Raja Shri D.  Sounds like a rapper's name.  The coin is beautifully round and well struck.

Question for Aidan:

Was Kutch a registered Feudal state of the British at the time of minting?

richie

Richie,Maharajah Desalji II of Kutch ruled from 1819 until 1860.Kutch became a princely state under British suzerainty in 1815.

That is a very nice coin.

Kutch was not the only Indian princely state to use the Kori as its currency unit.Porbandar,Nawanagar,& Junagadh also issued Koris as well.The Junagadhi coins are quite scarce.

Aidan.

[Rangnath]

Thanks Aidan. I noted the information you and Peter gave me about the coin on its holder.
You mentioned that Nawanagar also used "Kori" as a denomination. Just yesterday, I was able to id a worn hammered coin as a variation of Km 2 of Nawanagar:  1 Dokdo.  Nawanagar came under British protection in 1812.  But the date of the coin can only be placed as between 1570 and 1850!  What to do?
richie

[BC Numismatics]

Thanks Aidan. I noted the information you and Peter gave me about the coin on its holder.
You mentioned that Nawanagar also used "Kori" as a denomination. Just yesterday, I was able to id a worn hammered coin as a variation of Km 2 of Nawanagar:  1 Dokdo.  Nawanagar came under British protection in 1812.  But the date of the coin can only be placed as between 1570 and 1850!  What to do?
richie

Richie,this Nawangari Dokdo,like the Porbandari coins of the same type,are definitely British Commonwealth issues.The 19th. Century Krause catalogue helps you to distinguish between the various issues.

Aidan.