British India Rupee Necklace, Rupaya Har
A COLLECTOR'S ITEM:
This is a heavy solid silver necklace featuring two large link chains with four sets of various quarter and half rupee coin dangles and a centre medallion.
A similar necklace is in "Traditional Jewelery of India" Oppi Untracht - Page 122. Detailed: Northern India, Silver Necklace (rupaya har or hullar) with British-Indian rupee and half-rupee coins with the images of Edward V11 and George as Emperors of India. Length 38 inches (97cm), weight 528 grams. *Collection Mis, Brussels. (Refer last listing photo)
Coins in Total: One Rupee x 3, Half Rupee x 15, Quarter Rupee x 7, One Shilling x 1, = Total 26 Coins.
Coins: on Dangles. The image of "Victoria Queen" and "Victoria Empress", as Empress of India. The coinage changed from 'Victoria Queen' to 'Victoria Empress' in 1877.
Half Rupee: = 15, 1886 1881,1880, 1862, 1876, 1887, 1886, 1862, 1862
Quarter Rupee: = 7, 1862, 1889, 1888, 1862, 1879, 1888, 1888
One Shilling, Australia: = 1, 1910
One Shilling: 1910
EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP: · (1902 - 1910)
Legend EDWARDVS VII D: G: BRITT: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP: ·
Full text EDWARDVS VII DEI GRATIA BRITANNIARUM OMNIUM REX FIDEI DEFENSOR INDIAE IMPERATOR
Translation
Translated from Latin: Edward the Seventh, by the Grace of God, King of all the Britains, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India.
Features the Ensigns Armorial of the Commonwealth of Australia, as authorised by Royal Warrant 7th May 1908.
At centre, simple shield enclosing a cross of Saint George on which are five six-pointed stars, around the outside of which are six small escutcheons (small shields). The shield is supported by a kangaroo and an emu standing on a grassy mound. Above the shield a crest, the seven-pointed star of Federation on a wreath and on a ribbon at the base, the motto ADVANCE AUSTRALIA is inscribed.
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Medallion:
Half Rupee: = 6, 1884, 1862, 1881, 1862, 1876, 1878
The centre medallion has two rupee coins soldered back to back - the front coin is a Shah Alam 11, and the back coin is the One Rupee coin dated 1874, Calcutta.
Obverse (Front Coin): 1 Rupee - Shah Alam II AH 1215 (AD 1800-1801)
Legend in Persian: Sikka Mubarak Badshah ghazi Shah Alam, date above
Lettering:
١٢١٥
شاه عالم
بادشاه غازي
سكه مبارك
Translation: The auspicious coin of the victorious Emperor Shah Alam
The coins bear the frozen date AH1215 (AD1800-1801), but were struck between 1832-1835 AD and not at Surat, as the mint on the coin suggests, but at the new Bombay mint. The coins were declared legal tender by Procalmation dated 17 October 1832. Coinage of this new improved silver money continued at the Bombay mint until December 1835, when the Company's standard rupee currency replaced it. - Frozen date and Regnal Year (AH 1215 / RY46).
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Top Coin in Medallion
One Rupee - Shah Alam II - I have identified as this coin - but maybe another.
Obverse 1 Rupee - Shah Alam II -Years 1183-1204 (1183-1790) Calendar Islamic (Hijri)
Legend in Persian: Sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl Ilah Hami ud-din Muhammad Shah Alam, Badshah (AH date)
Lettering:
شاه عالم بادشاه
حامي دين محمد
ساى فضل لله
سكة زد بر حفت كشور
Translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah Alam Emperor Shadow of the divine favor, put his stamp on the seven climes, (AH date)
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Medallion Heght: 10 cm (4")
Medallion Width: 8 cm (3")
Necklace Length: 89 cm (35")
Total weight: 516 Grams (18.20oz) and can be worn either side.
The coins were minted as high grade silver 91.7%. The British-Indian government used precious metal coinage until 1939 and struck under direct authority of the crown. The chain and othe parts tested high grade silver also.
I have not cleaned the necklace - but will polish up beautifully.
PRICE: USD $1,995.00
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