Assam SE 1638 rupee
This specimen was lot 2228 in Steve Album Auction 54 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2026), where it sold for $192. The catalog description[1] noted, "ASSAM: Shiva Simha, 1715-1744, AR rupee, SE1638, VF, ex Nicholas Rhodes Collection." this type was struck SE 1637-1646. Assam (Ahom Kingdom) began striking coins based on the rupee system in the 1600's. The design elements were borrowed from nearby Cooch Behar, but the octagonal shape was an invention of the Assamese. The Ahom script was used until the reign of Gadadhara Simha, after which Sanskrit was used for most issues. Saka Era (SE) dates are 78 years earlier than current year dates in Western countries. Shown is a rupee From Siva Simha, dated SE 1638 (1716 AD). No queen is named.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 10.7-11.8 g, silver, this specimen 11.26 g.
Catalog reference: KM-51.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- Rhodes, N. G., and Bose, S. K. The Coinage of Assam - Volume II Ahom Period, Kolkata, India: A.O.P Pvt. Ltd., 2004.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Hanbing Feng, Auction 54, featuring selections from the Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2025.
Link to:
- SE 1627 rupee = 1705
- SE 1645 rupee = 1723
- Coins and currency dated 1716