Travancore (1938-49) 8 cash
Travancore was a princely state on the SW tip of India adjacent to the Madras presidency. Wikipedia comments,
"Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma GCSI GCIE, popularly known as Sree Chithira Thirunal (1912-91), was the last ruling Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Travancore, in southern India until 1949 and later the Titular Maharajah of Travancore until 1991. His reign is known for several notable reforms that have indelible impact on the society and culture of Kerala."
Chithira Thirunal's most remarkable achievement was a proclamation of 1936 permitting low caste people, previously "untouchable", to enter temples in his domain. This eight cash has a monogram "BRV" on the obverse, which distinguishes it from the prior eight cash of Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma VI (KM 48), which had a monogram "RV". The earlier type also weighed 4.89 g.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3.9 g, bronze, 22.2 mm diameter, plain edge.
Catalog reference: KM 59.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
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