Item number: A1454

Year: AD 1799-1868

Material: Gold

Size: 6.7 x 6.1 x 0.6 mm

Weight: 0.4 g

Provenance: Spink 2024

This is a gold fanam coin issued in the princely state of Mysore, South India, under the rule of Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, who reigned under the protection of the British East India Company starting in AD 1799. The “Fanam” was a common denomination for gold coins in the region of South India.

The obverse of the coin features a depiction of the Hindu deity Shiva, represented in a geometrically abstract style using lines and dots, seated in a cross-legged position. On either side of Shiva’s shoulders are chakras, each composed of five bead-like dots. In Hindu philosophy, chakras are understood as centres of energy that govern a person’s physical and mental well-being. This concept has become widely recognised globally, particularly through the popularisation of yoga practises.

The reverse side of the coin bears an inscription in Devanagari script, arranged vertically from top to bottom, reading “स्रि क्रिशनरज” (Shri Krishnaraja), which translates to “Maharaja Krishnaraja,” referring to Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, the ruler of Mysore.

Krishnaraja Wadiyar III was the 22nd ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. Before his ascension, Mysore had been under the de facto control of the powerful military leader Tipu Sultan, who elevated the state to a dominant power in southern India, successfully repelling multiple invasions by the British East India Company. However, in AD 1799, during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the British finally defeated Tipu Sultan, known as the “Tiger of Mysore,” and captured the capital, Seringapatam. Following Tipu Sultan’s death, the British restored Krishnaraja Wadiyar III, a member of the royal family, to the throne, re-establishing the traditional monarchy. Despite his formal position as ruler, Mysore became a princely state under British control, exercising significant internal autonomy until it was integrated into the Republic of India in AD 1956 as part of the reorganisation of Indian states.

During Krishnaraja Wadiyar III’s seventy-year reign, although political power was largely controlled by the British, he actively encouraged and supported the development of arts and culture. Despite the limited autonomy, his reign saw a flourishing of literary and artistic endeavours. Krishnaraja Wadiyar III himself was a renowned poet and literary figure, celebrated for his creative talents in composing poetry and literary works. His patronage of the arts helped to sustain Mysore’s rich cultural heritage, and his contributions are remembered as a significant part of the kingdom’s history.

物件編號: A1454

年代: 公元 1799-1868 年

材料: 黃金

尺寸: 6.7 x 6.1 x 0.6 mm

重量: 0.4 g

來源: 斯賓克拍賣行 2024

這是一枚公元1799年起，英國東印度公司保護下的克里希納拉賈·沃德亞爾三世，在南印度的邁索爾土邦境內發行的法納姆金幣。「法納姆」為一種流行於南印度地區的金幣單位。

錢幣正面是以幾何抽象的線條和圓點拼湊，一個盤腿而坐的印度教神祇濕婆，濕婆的肩膀兩側各有一個以五粒珠點組成的脈輪。脈輪是印度教哲學對於人體的一種解讀，即人的身心健康由七個不同的脈輪掌控，此概念隨著瑜珈的盛行而廣為世人所知。

錢幣背面按照上而下的順序，打印帶有統治者頭銜和名字的天城文銘文「स्रि क्रिशनरज​」，其意思為「大王克里希納拉賈」。

克里希納拉賈·沃德亞爾三世為邁索爾第二十二任王公，邁索爾在其繼位以前，於權臣蒂普蘇丹實際控制之下一躍成為南印度地區的霸主，並且多次擊退英國東印度公司的入侵。公元1799年，英國東印度公司總算在第四次邁索爾戰爭中，擊敗「邁索爾之虎」美名的蒂普蘇丹並成功占領首都塞林伽巴丹。英國人重新扶植王室正統的克里希納拉賈·沃德亞爾三世為新統治者，然而邁索爾就此也成為英國人控制下的高度自治土邦，直至公元1956年成為印度轄下的邦。

克里希納拉賈·沃德亞爾三世統治的七十年間，雖然國政為英國實際掌控但任內仍大舉鼓勵和支持藝文發展，他本身也以作為才華洋溢的詩歌和文學創作者出名。