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Auction 16041 27 September 2016
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Assam, Brajnatha Simha (1817/18 1819), octagonal Rupee, 11.25g, Sk. 1739, Śrī Śrī Rādhā/ Krishna Charana Ka/mala Makaranda/ Madhukarasya, rev. Śrī Śrī Svarga/ Deva Śrī Brajanā/tha Simha Nrpasya/ Śake 1739, lion running left below (RB. T8; KM. 265), toned, good very fine, scarce.
When Kamaleśvara Simha died in 1810, his younger brother, Chandrakanta Simha, replaced him. No coins are known in his name during this, the first of his two reigns. In 1816, a disgraced minister, the Bar Phukan, invited the Burmese to invade Assam. This they did, promoted the Bar Phukan to the position of Chief Minister and after receiving a large indemnity, they returned home. The new Chief Minister made many enemies and was soon assassinated. Nor did he have any supporters, so the son of the late Burha Gohain, having taken refuge in Guwahati, was invited back as Chief Minister. This latter did not support Chandrakanta Simha, as he thought he was responsible for the recent travails that had beset the state; rather, he espoused the cause of Brajnatha Simha, a great-grandson of Rajeśvara Simha. Chandrakanta fled to Rangpur, and Brajnatha took his place. Interestingly, it is reported that the priests were not willing to formally install Brajnatha as king as he had a mutilated ear, it being an Ahom custom that the king should have no disfigurement. Instead they installed his young son, Purandara Simha, as king in his stead. Effectively it must have been Brajnatha who held all the power as coins are known in his name, while none are known in the name of his son. No coins of Brajnatha Simha are common; they vary from scarce to very rare.
Estimate: £100.00 - £120.00
When Kamaleśvara Simha died in 1810, his younger brother, Chandrakanta Simha, replaced him. No coins are known in his name during this, the first of his two reigns. In 1816, a disgraced minister, the Bar Phukan, invited the Burmese to invade Assam. This they did, promoted the Bar Phukan to the position of Chief Minister and after receiving a large indemnity, they returned home. The new Chief Minister made many enemies and was soon assassinated. Nor did he have any supporters, so the son of the late Burha Gohain, having taken refuge in Guwahati, was invited back as Chief Minister. This latter did not support Chandrakanta Simha, as he thought he was responsible for the recent travails that had beset the state; rather, he espoused the cause of Brajnatha Simha, a great-grandson of Rajeśvara Simha. Chandrakanta fled to Rangpur, and Brajnatha took his place. Interestingly, it is reported that the priests were not willing to formally install Brajnatha as king as he had a mutilated ear, it being an Ahom custom that the king should have no disfigurement. Instead they installed his young son, Purandara Simha, as king in his stead. Effectively it must have been Brajnatha who held all the power as coins are known in his name, while none are known in the name of his son. No coins of Brajnatha Simha are common; they vary from scarce to very rare.
Estimate: £100.00 - £120.00