The Coinage of Assam: Ahom Period (Volume II)

By conducting micro-level die study of N.G. Rhodes and S.K. Bose have presented before the readers certain hitherto unknown traits of Ahom coins. It may be surprising to know that forged coins. It may be surprising to know that forged coins existed even during the Ahom period as has been elaborately dealt by the two scholars. Even today some unscrupulous persons resort to forgery of ahom coins to pass on as “genuine” for monetary gain and thereby create confusion in numismatic history. In their book N.R. Rhodes and S.K. Bose traveled a long way from Monetisation of Assam to Demonetisation by the British. The final blow of demonetisation came when the East India Company’s government asked Purandara Simha to pay 50,000 raj mohuree rupee annually without giviging him the authority to set up mint. It was to collect all old silver coins which the Company was in great need for the China trade. In their technical dissections of Ahom coins N.G. Rhodes and S.K. Bose are pioneers while in other aspects which have already bee trodden by earlier writers, they reveal freshness of their approach. These aspects taken together make the book highly readable and thought provoking to students of numismatic history. It will also certainly appeal to others who are interested in the study of Ahom coins. The fine illustrations of Ahom coins given towards the end add to its value in coin study.