Marudhar Arts
Auction 38 25 Feb 2023
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CIS-Nabha, Bhagwan Singh (1864-1871 AD), Nabha Mint, Silver Nazarana Rupee, VS 192x "Gobind Shahi" Couplet, In the name of Guru Gobind Singh, Obv: Persian legend "deg tegh fath Nusrat be darang, yaft az Nanak Guru Gobind Singh", Rev: Persian legend "zarb Nabha" at the bottom, a symbol of "swad" within Persian letter "seen" of julus, full leaf, star mark around, 10.90g, 20.13mm, (Unlisted in KM / Saran & Dalwinder # NB 27), edge cut, about very fine, Extremely Rare.
Note: This is the first coin that can be securely attributed to Bhagwan Singh, whose coins have never been confirmed. All three of the kings following Jaswant Singh (1783-1840), Devendra Singh (1840-46), Bharpur Singh (1846-63), and Bhagwan Singh (1863-71), were descended from Jaswant. Since Jaswant first used the leaf symbol, also known as the pipal leaf, followed by Devendra and Bharpur, it makes sense that Bhagwan Singh would have retained it on his coinage. As Bhagwan died from tuberculosis on 31 May 1871, it is likely that the dies for VS 1928 were produced prior to Bhagwan's death. As this coin bears a leaf symbol, it can only be attributed to Bhagwan Singh, not his successor Hira Singh, whom Bhagwan adopted. Hira Singh was not Jaswant's biological descendant.
It seems logical, however, that Hira Singh's coins (next lot) have the same Katar symbol as the coins from VS1928, so he might have used this symbol and only changed the reverse die for his coins. It would also be economically logical to maintain the Gobindshahi obverse dies at the Nabha mint because production has become possibly quite small.
Note: This is the first coin that can be securely attributed to Bhagwan Singh, whose coins have never been confirmed. All three of the kings following Jaswant Singh (1783-1840), Devendra Singh (1840-46), Bharpur Singh (1846-63), and Bhagwan Singh (1863-71), were descended from Jaswant. Since Jaswant first used the leaf symbol, also known as the pipal leaf, followed by Devendra and Bharpur, it makes sense that Bhagwan Singh would have retained it on his coinage. As Bhagwan died from tuberculosis on 31 May 1871, it is likely that the dies for VS 1928 were produced prior to Bhagwan's death. As this coin bears a leaf symbol, it can only be attributed to Bhagwan Singh, not his successor Hira Singh, whom Bhagwan adopted. Hira Singh was not Jaswant's biological descendant.
It seems logical, however, that Hira Singh's coins (next lot) have the same Katar symbol as the coins from VS1928, so he might have used this symbol and only changed the reverse die for his coins. It would also be economically logical to maintain the Gobindshahi obverse dies at the Nabha mint because production has become possibly quite small.