I've been trying to catalog this without luck. Some help would be appreciated. I guess it is possible that the coin isn't from Jaipur. There were states affiliated with Jaipur that used similar symbols. What do you think? Richie
What I think about Indian coins is irrelevant, since I know almost nothing about them. The important question is: "What do bgarg or Spiralstreet thnk?"
As you know Richie, that could very well be one of the oldest Indian coins in the world! Jaipur... Kindest Regards Ben
Jaipur! I've been in four physical fights in my life. In three of them I was younger than eleven. Only in one of them was I an "adult" and that was with an ice cream vendor in Jaipur. I won't go into details, except to say that the sky was reddish black with an impening dust storm and the temperature was as hot as the planet allows. I hit him in the stomach and remember thinking "Wow, I really don't know how to hit do I?" Richie
If you aren't going into details, maybe you shouldn't tease us with such interesting hints! "Ah, yes, that reminds me of that time I was in a fist-fight with an icecream vendor in Jaipur, both of us sweating profusely as the hellish dust storm prepared to engulf the city...Hmm, I can see that you are interested, but that's a story for another day. I must return to my coin collection."
Ah yes Bluegill, "sweating profusely", yes, that jogs the memory. My wife and I were attempting to return to our hotel before the storm when an ice cream vendor whistled at Allida. I marched over to the ice cream stand to demand an appology. He giggled and moved to the other side. But I knew without thinking what would wipe his grin off of his face. No, not my poorly told joke about the Indian Ambassador in Moscow nor the off color Urdu rhyme about what happens to the husband trapped between the wife and the mother-in-law. I squashed a stack of ice cream cones. The vendor with a now outraged look of anger came around to my side of the stand and yelled in my face. I don't remember what he said; something about my sister I think. I hit him in the stomach, even though I don't have a sister. I turned around quickly and my wife, who wasn't very impressed with me at that moment, and I hurredly walked away. The vendor and friends began hurling stones at us but, due to either intention or lack of practice, none hit. I never looked back but if I could have magically paid for the cones with a snap of the fingers, I would have. When I return to Jaipur, it won't be in May and I'll wear a different hat. richie
I am relieved and gratified to get the rest of the story. The next time an ice cream vendor whistles at my wife, I'll recall this story, and try to draw forth some lessons before acting.
It's a tough one. The "Jhar" symbol is clear but it's not quite exactly matching with Jaipur's symbol. I know that Kishangarh and Jodhpur also has similar "Jhar" symbol but without reading the mintname, it's impossible to pin down to a specific state. Neither is the date visible on coin. I will check few coins in my collection to see if I can find anything. Will get back to you..... Regards, Ballabh Garg
Ballabh, Thanks for looking into this. If the "Jhar" symbol is on the reverse, I thought that perhaps I was seeing a partial date or a reign date on the lower left of the obverse. richie
Ballabh, I looked at quite a few coins from Kishanghar and the Jhar seems stylistically different; a more graceful handle. richie
You are right. I checked few Kishangarh coins and the style of Jhar is definitely different then the one you have. From the two states, it certainly is more closer to the style of Jhar shown in Jaipur's coins. Other then this symbol, unfortunately there is nothing much on the coin to identify the period or any other attribute. Regards, Ballabh Garg
