Enrica Medugno
Senior Sale Coordinator
Lot 273
Six siege-issue gold coins minted at Multan during the Second Anglo-Sikh War Punjab, dated VS 1905/ 1848-49(3)
22 May 2025, 11:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £28,160 inc. premium
Looking for a similar item?
Our Islamic and Indian Art specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistAsk about this lot
Oliver White
Head of Department
Six siege-issue gold coins minted at Multan during the Second Anglo-Sikh War
Punjab, dated VS 1905/ 1848-49
Punjab, dated VS 1905/ 1848-49
the six coins joined together in pairs by a central boss, together with a handwritten note reading 'ornaments from turban of Runjeet Singh, "The Lion of Lahore"'
each approx. 9 mm. diam.; 4.6 g. total weight(3)
each approx. 9 mm. diam.; 4.6 g. total weight(3)
Footnotes
Provenance
Christie's, Jewellery, 27 March 2012, lot 234.
These rare coins were struck during the siege of Multan by the British from September 1848 to January 1849. The garrison was led by Diwan Mulraj, who found himself in possession of no silver but a considerable store of gold. Consequently, he struck these small gold pieces to pay his troops. They were meant to pass as one rupee coins.
The legends on the coin reflect the dire circumstances in which it was struck. On the obverse, there is an appeal to the Guru to help (sahai satguru), and on the reverse is the word mundarka meaning 'siege' along with the Bikrami Samvat era year 1905 (1848–49 CE). During the siege, the city was surrounded by British troops, who eventually broke through and occupied Multan.
The curious accompanying note points to these particular coins supposedly being worn as ornaments in Maharaja Ranjit Singh's turban, despite the Siege of Multan being ten years after his death.