Kutch 1947/VS 2004 5 kori
The first specimen was lot 10499 in Ponterio sale 169 (Baltimore, November 2012), where it sold for $2,291. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. Kutch. 5 Kori, VS 2004 (1947). Commemorative of Indian Independence. Attractive light toning with underlying luster. PCGS MS-66 Secure Holder. From the Demarete Collection." The second specimen was lot 24511 in Heritage sale 3030 (New York, January 2014), where it sold for $5,581.25. The catalog description[2] noted, "Kutch. Madanasinghji gold 5 Kori VS2004 (1947), MS66 NGC, fully brilliant with pristine surfaces, a marvelous example of this off-strike in gold of the silver 5 Kori." The third specimen was lot 31385 in Heritage sale 3073 (Chicago, April 2019), where it sold for $1,140. The catalog description[3] noted, "Kutch. Madanasinghji 5 Kori VS 2004 (1947) MS63 NGC. Choice quality, with noticeably fresh surfaces made even more attractive by subtle russet tone and boldly rendered design motifs. Struck to commemorate independence, and most pleasing in this visual complexion. From the Engelen Collection of World Coinage." The Indian Princely State of Kutch is located in a flat expanse of salt marshlands on the western border of India along the Arabian Sea. Partly due to its geographic isolation, Kutch was able to maintain a unique coinage system from its beginnings through to independence from the British in 1947. The first Kutch coins were modelled after those of Nawanagar, from which Kutch officially gained its autonomy in 1617 AD. This was also the year that Kutch obtained the rights to produce coinage in the name of her own rulers.
Shown is a silver five kori from the rule of Madanasinghji (1947-1948 AD). This was the last ruler of Kutch, before the princely state was absorbed into the Republic of India. The example shown is dated 1947 AD/VS 2004, and honors the beginning of independence.
Recorded mintage: unknown but scarce.
Specification: 13.87 g, .937 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM Y-85 (silver), Fr-1282, KM-M8 (gold).
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio sale 169: The November 2012 Baltimore Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers, LLC, 2012.
- [2]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and David Michaels, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3030, featuring the RLM Collection, the Isaac Rudman Collection, the Hans Cook Collection and the Collection of Donald E. Bently, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2013.
- [3]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3073, featuring the Lake County Collection of British coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
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