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 Replies: 17 / Views: 2,408 |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2217 Posts |
I just won these items on ebay for about a fiver. I was using Krause to try and identify them but the closest I could get to either of them was the coin on the right, resembles a Tibetan tangka (c# 27.1) and obviously it might be something completely different You cannot see both sides of each coin as there was just the one photo taken and the seller doesn't know what they are either. Looking in Krause the coins of Nepal are similar, so I was guessing they were either Tibetan or Nepali. I think someone will be able to help me out   Edited by NumisMattyUk
02/03/2008 9:24 pm
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Pillar of the Community
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5318 Posts |
Could you show the flip side of these two? I have an idea that would either be confirmed/refuted.
Edited by KurtS
02/03/2008 11:04 pm
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Pillar of the Community
 United Kingdom
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Err... I already mentioned about that - there isn't one :(
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Pillar of the Community
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5318 Posts |
My apologies...I didn't read carefully! You might also try Bhutan, as some of the characters bear a resembles (but perhaps Nepal and Bhutan share the same alphabet?) With the modern Bhutan coins, there's usually a very distinctive character in the center, which I assume is the national name:  |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2217 Posts |
I don't think they are from Bhutan - their coinage doesn't quite seem to fit from looking at what there is in Krause. Really dead set on Tibet... I think I'll have a trawl with Google..
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Pillar of the Community
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2217 Posts |
O-kay! little clue - back to Nepal!
Here's a coin which looks like the one on the left in my first photo; it's a Nepali trade coin!..
Actually, the coin on the right is in Krause, or some coins very similar! - the 1 Mohars (could be higher, most likely the lower denomination) of early 20th-century Tibet, but there are slight differences in the design.
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Pillar of the Community
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This coin and those in Krause resemble my coin (at right first photo) most closely, but there is a clear difference in the capsules that contain the figures in the inner ring of Nepali letters - they are rounder and there are spaces between them that I cannot see in any of the coins in Krause..  This one is not quite right!.. Edited by NumisMattyUk
02/04/2008 12:26 am
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Pillar of the Community
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Hmmm...I think you're on the right track with Nepal.
This coin (which I believe is upside-down) has similar characters to one of the two in question:
Good luck!
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Pillar of the Community
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2217 Posts |
I will need it - there is a possibility they are not 20th-Century!
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Pillar of the Community
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2217 Posts |
Edited by NumisMattyUk
02/04/2008 12:48 am
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Moderator
 Australia
16810 Posts |
quote:
...there is a possibility they are not 20th-Century!
They certainly are not.   What we now call "Nepal" was originally divided into three rival kingdoms, named after their capital cities: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhatgaon. Assorted branches of the Malla dynasty were the predominant ruling families of the three kingdoms until all three were overthrown by the prince of Gorkha in 1768. quote:
could it be this!? Malla-dynasty coin?
Very close, but not quite.  The one on the right of your original pic is from the Kingdom of Kathmandu, King Mahindra Simha, a brief usurper (ruled 1715-1722 AD) not technically part of the Malla dynasty. The coin is dated, Year 835 of the Nepal calendar (= 1715 AD). KM# 225, CV $17.50 in Fine. The one in NumisMatty's pic is dated 821 (1701 AD). On both coins, the date is below the central sword. The one on the left of the original pic also shows the date-side, which helps greatly with identification: it's from the Kingdom of Bhatgaon, dated 842, from the reign of the last king, Ranajit Malla (1722-1769). KM# 108, CV $12 in Fine. The coin in KurtS's pic appears to be an exact match. On this coin, the date is at the bottom (but as KurtS suspected, both pics are upside down). Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
Edited by Sap
02/04/2008 04:16 am
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Pillar of the Community
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Gah!.. that was my pic - he stole it! :) Great info. again, lots of history in these coins and a great area to deal in by the looks of it - just out of interest, what do you think the grades will be? Edited by NumisMattyUk
02/04/2008 10:54 am
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Moderator
Australia
16810 Posts |
I've always found grading these things tricky - I never know what's wear from circulation, worn dies, or poor strike. Just judging from the pics, I'd call them both VF at most.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
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2217 Posts |
They look sort of VF-ish to me also, but you can't really tell... oh well they're on their way to me now so I can study them close up :)
Edited by NumisMattyUk
02/04/2008 10:14 pm
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Pillar of the Community
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619 Posts |
SAP, your research is certainly very interesting especially the history of Nepal. As for the coins and dates, what reference book did you pull this stuff out from? Thanks for sharing these facts with us.
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Pillar of the Community
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1984 Posts |
As always, stellar info Sap. Thanks for posting them Matty.
It's good to remember that there are lots of people who will never post a comment on these threads who are appreciative of the time spent and the knowledge imparted. HABIB
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Replies: 17 / Views: 2,408 |
Posted 02/03/2008 11:10 pm
