A rare one rupee silver coin, minted in commemoration of the coronation of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji in 1674, went for Rs. 10.5 lakh at an auction here.
The coin, which was with a Pune-based businessman, was bought by another Maharashtrian, whose identity was not revealed by Marudhar Arts, a registered auction house with the Archaeological Survey of India.
According to those in the numismatics circle, there are less than 10 such coins minted in commemoration of Shivaji coronation, both in private as well as museum collection.
Interestingly, this was only the second time that the coin had come into market for auction; the first time being in January this year.
The undated coin with ‘Jagdamba Prasanna’ inscribed on one side and ‘Raja Shiv Chhatrapati’ on the other, is said to be among the most sought after by numismatics, according to Archie Maru, director, Marudhar Arts, which auctioned the coin during the All-India Exhibition of Coins and Currencies, organised by the Karnataka Numismatics Society, which concluded here on Sunday.
“In fact, the bid at the auction surprised us. We were expecting it to be around Rs. 8 lakh,” sources in the auction house said.
