Novamarketing Chiasso Medals Coins Z Miscellaneous Miscellaneous India Temple Tokens Token

# 719Token nd Temple TokensZ Miscellaneous - India
India – Temple Tokens (19th Century). Token n.d., Rupee size, Mint: Uncertain (mainly Calcutta), Silver (ø 22.65 mm – w. 11.09 g.). Edge: plain. Brotman Type A No 1. Mitchiner (1979) 4704. Mitchiner (1998) 323.

Obverse:
Rama and his brother Lakshmana standing to right, with arrow in the left hand and long bow over the right shoulder. Decorative symbol on left field. Legend in Gurumukhi around (= RAMA SATA) repeated four times.

Reverse:
Durbar scene. Rama (right) and Sita (left) seated on Durbar platform. An attendant on left (probably Satrughna or Lakshmana) helds a parasol above them. The monkey-god Hanuman stands on right, bowing towards them. Legend in Gurumukhi around (= RAMA SATA) repeated three times.

Note:
Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu, was hero of the Ramayana. When Rama's father Dasharata died Rama was banished and his half-brother Bharata placed on throne. The third son of Dasharata, Lakshmana, accompained his brother Rama into exile. Sita was abducted after Rama's banishment and carried off to Lanka (Ceylon) by the demon king. Assisted by Hanuman, leader of the monkeys, and to a lesser extent by Jambavat, leader of the bears, Rama led an expedition to Lanka and rescued Sita. He returned to Ayodha where Bharata made way for him and he was crowned king with Sita as his consort. After his coronation Rama was consecrated by the Seven Rishis. Rama and Sita bore two sons who were named Kusha and Lava. (Extracted from – Oriental Coins and their values / Non-Islamic States and Western Colonies / AD 600-1979 – by M. Mitchiner, page 599).

Web references:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramayana
http://www.arminius-numismatics.com/coppermine1414/cpg1414/displayimage.php?album=67&pos=4

Literature:
Brotman, Irwin F. – A Guide to Temple Tokens of India – Printed by Shamrock Press, Los Angeles, California, USA, 1970.
Mitchiner M. – Oriental Coins and their values / Non-Islamic States and Western Colonies / AD 600-1979 – Hawkins Pub., London, 1979.
Mitchiner M. – Indian Tokens: Popular Religious and Secular Art, from the ancient period to the present day – Hawkins Pub, London, 1998.