Unknown Indian Princely State Coin

Here are the obverse and reverse pictures of a coin from an Indian Princely State. However, I cannot decipher from which it is. Can someone please help?

Note, the material may be gold; I'm not sure.

http://usera.imagecave.com/CalloftheHauntedMast/Coin1.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/CalloftheHauntedMast/Coin2.jpg

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

These sell on eBay for about $25.00 if they're gold. Here is a link to an example auction.
http://cgi.ebay.com/India-Unknown-7...1QQihZ006QQcategoryZ45138QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Here is another link with reference to it (several shown) being a gold FANAM issued in the 17th - 18th century.
http://search-completed.ebay.com/se...ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=2

http://www.pandaamerica.com/details.asp?item=1070&grp=1&categ=68

Take Care
Ben

 

Thanks. However, I'm not sure they're gold. They appear to be and may be considering I have several other catalgoued gold fanams.

Can they be linked to a specific State though?

 

It might take some looking, but I can bet you'll find what your looking for here...
http://www.coins-of-india.co.uk/

Take Care
Ben

 

Just do a Google search for "fanam" or "world's smallest gold coin" and you'll find out more that you ever wanted to know about your coin.:smile
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=fanam&btnG=Search+Images

 

Indeed, this is a Gold Fanam from India. Specifically, it is a 1 Fanam from the state of Cochin (KM#10). The coin belongs to the 18th C.

 

For those unaware of where Cochin is located,I can tell you that it is located in south-west India.Here's an article; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochin .

Aidan.

 

They also come in silver, here's a fanam one I bought recently.

 

There are silver fanams, but this one is not a fanam. Infact, it is a One Chuckrum from the princely state of Travancore. There are 4 minor varieties of this coin which can be easily identified by the number and position of dots.

 

It is a pity that Krause fails to depict most Indian Princely States coins.A lot of collectors are put off collecting this very interesting series,because of the lack of illustrations in Krause.

Acanthite,that is a very nice Travancorean silver 1 Chuckram you have got there.

Here's an article about Travancore; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travancore .

Aidan.

 

Here are 3 minor varieties of 1 Chuckram from Travancore in my collection. The first two belongs to the reign of Rama Varma I. The third belongs to Rama Varma IV. The second coin is not catalogued. It is detected by a dot in the middle of the coin. While buying these types of small chuckrams or fanams, always select the coin with more details. Some of these coins wont be having the full details as the image might be shifted to a corner.

 

Please see the different fanams from the princely state of Travancore in my collection. 1. Half Aantharaya, 2. Anantharaya, 3. Kali, 4. Veeraraya Gold, 5. Veeraraya Silver. The one major difference I've noted between other small coins of the same size and fanams is their thickness. The fanams are thin compared to other coins. The Travancore State has other machine-struck fanams also. These coins are also thin..

 

I have got the machine struck silver 1 Fanam with the date 1118,plus I do have a machine struck Velli Fanam.Those are very nice Travancorean coins,especially the gold Anantaraya & Viraraya.It is hard to pinpoint when the hand struck coins were issued,as the designs were issued both before & after coming under British suzerainty.

Aidan.

 

Thanks for that great information on the Chuckram, the seller had identified the coin I showed as a fanam, now I'm all the wiser . I do also have a gold fanam, that one I am sure of.

 

1 golden fanam of Cochin-Malabar. For the same coin I paid in my country $8.00. I made a special holder for it.

 

Can you post a picture?

 

Please, give me a few days - my camera went dead. I`ve forgotten: very similar golden fanams are also from Coorg Duchy. The only difference i in only the number of dots.

 

Aidan, I remember you telling me that you've got a 1889 Travancore 1/2 Rupee coin. It is one of the most sought after coins now. A coin in good condition will fetch around 75$ here.

 

Biju,yes,but mine is a blackish colour.It is still a very difficult coin to find.It is good to hear that they can fetch up to US$75.

Have you ever seen the Travancorean 1/2 'Chitra' Rupee,which was issued much later on?

I haven't yet got a 'Coins of Travancore' section in the Indian Princely States part of the British Commonwealth Numismatic Forum,as I have to try & figure out which Indian Princely States issued coins after coming under British suzerainty before I can add in those sections.

Aidan.

 

Aidan, I've got those and they are not difficult to get. In the Chitra Rupee, 1121 is a key year. Now I've got 54 different types of Travancore coins, but not the 1889 Half Rupee coin. Recently, I got a 1889 Quarter Rupee coin for about 45$. If ever you come across a 1889 Half Rupee coin, please let me know.