Half Tanka

Sri Sri/Siva Charana/Kamala

(24 Reviews)

Śake/17x

Obv: Nagari legend in four lines part of "Sri Sri/Siva Charana/Kamala
Madhu/Karasya", Rev: Nagari legend part of "Sri Srima/t Harendra
Nara/yanasya, Sake"
Year :
Diameter: 18.5mm
Weight : 4.66g
Mint Mark :

British Influence on the Cooch Behar Mint

Bhandar thakur of takagachh were in charge of the mint, and at this time an average of forty or fifty thousand coins are struck each year. The production and quality varied, however, according to the exchange rate between the Narayani tankas and French arcot rupee, from which the Narayani coins were made. In 1780’s about 25% of copper allow was added to the alloy of Arcot rupee. The coins were weighted about 4.7gm, and were issued to the public at 117 Narayani Tanks for 100 Sicca Rupee. The British temporally closed the mint from 1789 to 1795 and again in 1800. Finally an order of 27th Dec 1845 closed the mint permanently. Although the Narayani coins struck after 1788 must have been very limited, they continued to be most popular currency in the area well into the nineteenth century. After that British gradually managed to introduce their own rupee into circulation, but it was not until 1866 that the Narayani Coins finally ceased to be legal trade.