Need help identifying coins from India (I think)...

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jmm2562
jmm2562 Posts: 129 ✭✭
in World & Ancient Coins Forum

Hello Experts!

I have spent the last several months identifying many loose foreign coins in my collection. But I have a handful of old asian coins that I struggle to even get started and keep putting them aside. What is the process of narrowing down such coins from India (I think). Below are 4 that I'm currently stuck on. I have tried image match searches, scrolling through large Numista collections and much more. I have learned a great deal about identifying coins from China/Japan/Korea using this totally helpful guide from primaltrek.com. But for India, I'm totally stuck. Are there similar guides for India?

Thanks so much for any guidance,

Jim (jmm2562)









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  • Sapyx
    Sapyx Posts: 2,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    I believe the coins at top right and bottom left are essentially the same type. They both feature as a central design element a "jhar plant", a leafy branch. Several states used such a leafy branch as a state symbol on their coins (notably Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kishangarh), with each state tending to use a slightly different shape. The jhar on these coins looks more like the variety used in Jaipur, so I would start looking there.

    The top left coin, in the middle of the first picture is a symbol that looks kind of like a lightning-bolt or bent sword; this is a mintmark for Jodhpur state.

    @jmm2562 said:
    ... But for India, I'm totally stuck. Are there similar guides for India?

    The old Craig catalogues had a helpful pictorial chart for identifying these Indian States mintmarks; I wish I'd taken a copy of it before replacing my Craig with Krauses as the guides in the Krause books weren't as helpful, and I haven't really found anything similar online.

    Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.
    Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "Meditations"

    Apparently I have been awarded the DPOTD twice. B)
  • MasonG
    MasonG Posts: 7,566 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @Sapyx said:
    The old Craig catalogues had a helpful pictorial chart for identifying these Indian States mintmarks

    Here you go...

  • jmm2562
    jmm2562 Posts: 129 ✭✭
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    Perfect! Thanks so much for your help. Now I have some direction to identify these 4 lost coins of India. I'll go to work!

  • TPring
    TPring Posts: 388 ✭✭✭
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    Seventh pic down [below 5 coins] appears to be 1/4 Anna from Jodhpur, 1936

  • MrBreeze
    MrBreeze Posts: 1,039 ✭✭✭
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    @MasonG

    Can you please post a picture of the front of the reference book with that table?

    https://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/collectors-showcase/world-coins/one-coin-per-year-1600-2017/2422

  • MasonG
    MasonG Posts: 7,566 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    @MrBreeze said:
    @MasonG

    Can you please post a picture of the front of the reference book with that table?

    Sure- here you go...

  • MrBreeze
    MrBreeze Posts: 1,039 ✭✭✭
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    Thank you

    https://www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/collectors-showcase/world-coins/one-coin-per-year-1600-2017/2422

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