Ladakh (1815-16), AR Jau, 2.28g, in the name of Mahmud Khan, the Muslim name of the king of Ladakh, year 14, obverse legend aqibat mahmūd khān (Rhodes, Garhwal and Ladakh, 19 (plate coin); KM. 3 (plate coin)), good very fine, very scarce.
This is the only type of Ladakhi Jau to bear a date. It is likely that it relates to year 14 of the reign of king Tse-dpal-don-grub-rnam-rgyal, which equates to 1815-16. This date fits well with the historical background of the area as it corresponds to a time when once again, trade between India and western Tibet had been diverted from Garhwal to Ladakh. This time it was due to the war between Nepal and the British, which took place between 1814-16. Rhodes suggests that the change of name on the obverse may have been due to a wish to demonstrate independence, and to disassociate Ladakh from the concept of Mughal suzerainty.
Estimate: £100.00 - £120.00