¼ Tanka - Jaya Simha Guhillas of Medapata or Mewad 1313 (1257)

Weight

2.69 g

Diameter

20 mm

Thickness

NA

Material

Gold

Shape

Round (irregular)

Edge Type

Plain

Technique

Hammered

Front design

Goddess Lakshmi, four-armed, seated facing cross-legged, holding a lotus in both upper hands and a kalash in both lower hands, all within a quatrefoil border and surrounded by dots

Back design

Three line Devanagari legend, dotted border.

Year of Minting

1313 (1257)

Calendar

Vikram Samvat

Mint location

NA

Mint mark

NA

Orientation

NA

Inscriptions

Obverse: Shri Vopparaja

Context

The history of Mewar, a region that has long stood as a bastion of resistance and Rajput valor, begins with the extraordinary hero Rana Bappa Rawal, whose conquests laid the foundations for the House of Mewar. From the earliest times, the rulers of this land defended it against successive waves of invasions, particularly from Islamic powers, ensuring that the legacy of sovereignty and martial valor remained intact across centuries.The Guhila dynasty, the principal line of Mewar, initially governed the Medapata district of present-day Rajasthan as vassals of the Gurjara-Pratiharas between the 8th and 10th centuries. Their capitals, including Nagahrada and Ahar, gave rise to the "Nagda-Ahar" branch of the Guhilas. With the decline of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, the Guhilas asserted independent authority, navigating a complex political landscape that involved military engagements with neighboring powers - the Paramaras, Chahamanas, Chalukyas, Vaghelas, and later, the Delhi Sultanate. By the 13th century, the Guhila administration had bifurcated into two branches. The senior line, ruling from Chitrakuta, ended with Ratnasimha's defeat at the 1303 Siege of Chittorgarh by forces of the Delhi Sultanate. The junior line, ruling from Sisoda, continued under the title of Rana, giving rise to the Sisodia Rajput dynasty, which preserved Mewar's independence and martial tradition for centuries. According to Prof. Nihar Ranjan Ray's Dynastic History of Northern India (p.1186), epigraphic evidence identifies a Guhila ruler named Jayasimha Deva, whose reign is dated between VS 1270 and 1317 AD, when he was succeeded by his son. While his precise branch affiliation is uncertain, he was contemporary with Chahmana rulers Jaitrasimha Deva (c.1275 AD) and his son Hammira Deva (1282–1301 AD) of Ranthambhor. Stylistically, the gold coin attributed to Jayasimha Deva fits firmly within the 13th-century numismatic style, with legends and depictions of goddess Lakshmi is reminiscent of coins of the Jajapella rulers of Narwar and Hammira Deva of Ranthambhor. The truncated dating on the coin aligns with this period. A truly exceptional and historically significant coin, it reflects the sovereignty and martial legacy of Mewar, making it one of the rarest jewels of early medieval Rajput numismatics. This is the only publicly known specimen, never before offered in our auction. - Marudhar Arts

Rarity

Ultra rare

Coin type

Standard circulation

In circulation

No

Demonetized

Yes

Marketplace listings

0