Watch List notes:

INDIA, Colonial. British India. Victoria, 1837-1901. Token (Billon, 28 mm, 9.38 g, 11 h), Calcutta. On the left, Krishna standing facing, playing his flute; on the right, his consort Radha standing on lotus; to right, rudimentary tree and 'RADHA KRISHNA' (in Devangari); to left, 'RADHA KRISHNA' (in Bengali). Rev. 'MALA MATA / KALI MATA' ('Mother Kali' in Devangari) Goddess Kali with four arms, trampling on prostate husband Shiva; she holds a raised scimitar in her upper right hand and a severed head in her upper left from which drips blood into bowl held in her lower left. Cf. Mitchiner (2012), 105 (for the obverse legend) and Mitchiner (1998), 401 (for the reverse legend). Very fine.


This token shows a lovely depiction of Hindu deities from northern India (Radha Krishna) and eastern India (Kali). As it was used as a gift during Hindu festivals, traces of red sindoor (traditional vermilion used in Hindu ceremonies) are still visible on obverse.