Assam SE 1705 rupee

Stack's Bowers 2023 ANA sale, lot 56369

This specimen was lot 56369 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $288. The catalog description^[1] noted, "INDIA. Assam. Rupee, SE 1705 (1783). Gaurinatha Simha (Suhitpanpha). NGC MS-62." 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 Guarinatha Simha with the inscription in Assamese. This king ruled at a time when the kingdom was under siege from invaders in the east. Perhaps because of this he struck prolific coinage and rupees from his reign are by far the easiest to find. This type is listed for years SE 1703-1706.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 10.7-11.6 g, silver.

Catalog reference: KM-215.

Source:

• 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.

Link to:

• SE 1703 rupee, lion facing right = 1781
• SE 1706 rupee
• Coins and currency dated 1783