Assam SE 1666 1 rupee
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 up through 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 1666 (1744 AD), and also names his queen at the time, Sarvvesvari. The second specimen was lot 2230 in Steve Album Auction 54 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2026), where it sold for $360. The catalog description[1] noted, "ASSAM: Shiva Simha, 1715-1744, AR rupee, SE1665 year 31, also citing Queen Sarvvesvari; regnal year below the reverse, VF-XF, ex Nicholas Rhodes Collection."
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 10.7-11.6 g, silver, 11.3 g, the second specimen 11.45 g.
Catalog reference: KM 112, Rhodes and Bose M16.1.
- 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.
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