Item number: A1370

Year: AD 1909

Material: Gold

Size: 25.2 x 25.2 mm

Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024

This coin, minted in AD 1909, originates from the reign of Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the 8th monarch of the Shah dynasty of Nepal, who ruled between AD 1881 and AD 1911. The coin’s design is characterised by a consistent beaded border encircling both the obverse and reverse sides.

The obverse of the coin adopts a design rooted in traditional Newar art, featuring a mandala motif composed of interlocking rectangular and circular elements. Above the rectangle are two repetitions of the Devanagari script “श्री” (Shri), a term signifying auspiciousness and sanctity within Buddhist tradition. Within the rectangle, the full name of the king, “पृथ्वी बीर विक्रम शाह देव” (Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah Dev), is inscribed in Devanagari script. At the centre of the design lies a small circular emblem, depicting a trident symbol that represents royal authority. Below the rectangle, the inscription “१ ८ ३ १” (1831) denotes the year of minting. It is important to note that the year inscribed on the coin corresponds to the Nepalese calendar, known as the Saka Era, which differs from the Gregorian calendar by approximately 78 years. Thus, the year “1831” in the Saka calendar aligns with the year AD 1909  in the Gregorian system. This detail reflects the historical and cultural specificity of Nepalese calendrical systems.

The reverse side of the coin prominently displays a lotus motif, one of the “Eight Auspicious Symbols” (Ashtamangala) in Buddhist iconography, which is emblematic of purity and enlightenment. The lotus petals are embellished with three “Shri” symbols, celebrating the spiritual accomplishments of Gorakhnath, one of the 84 Mahasiddhas revered in Hinduism. The central design incorporates four Devanagari characters that pay homage to the Hindu goddess Bhawani, alongside an abstract representation of a royal sword hilt. The intricate symbology of the coin reflects Nepal’s historical role as a cultural and religious nexus, bridging the Hindu traditions of the South Asian subcontinent and the Tibetan Buddhist influences of the Himalayan region.

Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah Dev (August 18, AD 1875–December 11, AD 1911) made notable contributions to Nepal’s modernisation during his relatively brief reign. His initiatives included the introduction of the nation’s first automobile, the establishment of clean drinking water systems, and the development of modern healthcare infrastructure. However, his tenure was marked by political instability. The growing influence of his confidants in governmental affairs heightened fears of potential usurpation, leading to their strategic relocation to various royal palaces across the country as a precautionary measure. Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah passed away prematurely, as did many of his predecessors, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Tribhuvan, who became the 9th King of Nepal.

物件編號: A1370

年代: 公元 1909 年

材質: 黃金

尺寸: 25.2 x 25.2 mm

來源: 福君錢幣 2024

這是一枚公元1909年，由尼泊爾沙阿王朝第8任統治者巴里斯威（統治：公元1881至1911年）鑄造的硬幣。硬幣正反兩面的邊緣均有一道珠圈環繞。

硬幣正面採用尼泊爾本土內瓦爾藝術風格，由矩形和圓形共同組成的曼陀羅圖騰。矩形上方的天城文是兩個重複的「श्री」（室利），在佛教中意味著吉祥莊嚴。矩形內刻有國王全名「पृथ्वी बीर विक्रम शाह देव」（巴里斯威·比爾·比克拉姆·沙阿·德瓦）。中央小圓圈內則是象徵皇室的三叉戟圖騰。矩形下方的銘文「१ ८ ३ १」意思是「1831」代表著鑄造的年份，需要注意的是硬幣上的年份並不是我們所熟悉的公元紀年，而是尼泊爾曆法，也稱作塞迦曆，塞迦曆大約比一般的公元紀年晚78年，對應到公元紀年就是公元1909年。

硬幣背面以「佛門八寶」之一的蓮花圖騰為飾，花瓣上的三個室利形容和讚美印度教八十四大成就者之一的郭拉洽。中央的四個天城文讚揚印度教女神芭華妮，並呈現抽象化的皇室寶劍柄圖騰。從這枚金幣的設計可以看出，位處喜馬拉雅山南麓的尼泊爾，是南亞次大陸的印度教和青藏高原藏傳佛教的重要交匯處，其宗教和藝術文化深受這兩地的影響。

巴里斯威·比爾·比克拉姆·沙阿（公元1875年8月18日至公元1911年12月11日）在短暫的統治期間，為尼泊爾帶來了諸多現代化進程。他引進了尼泊爾第一代汽車、乾淨的飲用水和現代化醫療系統，為國家發展做出了重要貢獻。然而，在納拉揚希蒂王宮執政期間，由於其親信在國家事務中的影響力日益增加，巴里斯威愈發擔心可能發生政變。為了防範潛在的篡位陰謀，他將這些親信流放到尼泊爾各地的宮殿。與其他尼泊爾國王一樣，巴里斯威也在非常年輕時去世。他的長子特里布萬隨後繼承王位，成為尼泊爾的第九任國王。