Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
April 2014 Hong Kong Auction - Sess. A-B 31 Mar - 1 Apr 2014
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INDIA. Hyderabad Region. Coinage of the Jinns. Silver 5 Rupee Fantasy, Medal, Amulet or Talisman, 552 (ca. Late 19th-Early 20th Century). PCGS AU-55.
Davenport-509 (plate coin). These pieces were first documented in the 20th Numismatic Supplement of the
Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, December 1912 by Dr. Oliver
Cordington in an article titled "Coins or Medals from Kurnul?". The items have been debated ever since this early documentation. A
more recent article in The Numismatic Chronicle published in 1961 by R.B.
Whitehead discusses them in further depth. The legends and date of this piece
pose serious questions as to origin and purpose. To quote Whitehead, "They seem
to have originated from the realm of fantasy". Clearly they are over 100 years
old from their earliest documentation; however, their origin and purpose remain
uncertain. The legends do not correspond with anything in the region and the date
seems to be fictional. Their attribution to Kurnul and relation to Hyderabad
seem to come from coin tickets on pieces located in the British Museum. This
speculation is based on where the pieces where originally purchased. The
legends roughly read, "This is a strike in the populous city of the throne, year
of 552" and "The great king of kings, Sultan Mahmud Ghazi, son of the Jan."
Whitehead further states, "H[i]t is clear from their style, legends and weight
that these pieces were not current coin", speculating they were fabricated as
medals, amulets or talismans. Strange and interesting. Toned and attractive. PCGS AU-55.
Davenport-509 (plate coin). These pieces were first documented in the 20th Numismatic Supplement of the
Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, December 1912 by Dr. Oliver
Cordington in an article titled "Coins or Medals from Kurnul?". The items have been debated ever since this early documentation. A
more recent article in The Numismatic Chronicle published in 1961 by R.B.
Whitehead discusses them in further depth. The legends and date of this piece
pose serious questions as to origin and purpose. To quote Whitehead, "They seem
to have originated from the realm of fantasy". Clearly they are over 100 years
old from their earliest documentation; however, their origin and purpose remain
uncertain. The legends do not correspond with anything in the region and the date
seems to be fictional. Their attribution to Kurnul and relation to Hyderabad
seem to come from coin tickets on pieces located in the British Museum. This
speculation is based on where the pieces where originally purchased. The
legends roughly read, "This is a strike in the populous city of the throne, year
of 552" and "The great king of kings, Sultan Mahmud Ghazi, son of the Jan."
Whitehead further states, "H[i]t is clear from their style, legends and weight
that these pieces were not current coin", speculating they were fabricated as
medals, amulets or talismans. Strange and interesting. Toned and attractive. PCGS AU-55.