QTggïTTAL NUMISMATIC SOCIETY INFORr-!ATION SHSET T O O . ^

INDIA - THE COINAGE OF MANIPUR (^ \JiAM^ i^Y"^

by N.Q. RHODES

Manipur was a n e t t y h i l l s t a t e on the s o u t h - e a s t of Assam and b o r d e r i n g Burma. I t ' s a r e a was 8,638 square mi les and the popu la t ion in 1891 was about 221,000, The s t a t e c o n s i s t e d of an ex tens ive v a l l e y i n the h e a r t of the d i f f i c u l t jung le and mountain country which s t r e t c h e s between Assam, Kachar, Burma and Chi t t agong , The only to'/m of any s i z e was the c a p i t a l of Imphal, s i t e d in the c e n t r e of the s t a t e . Communications with Ind ia and Burma were f o r n e r l y very d i f f i c u l t and hazardous and the e x t e r n a l t r a d e of the s t a t e was r e s t r i c t e d . European t r a v e l l e r s to Kanipur were i n f r equen t i n former t imes bu t from 1942 u n t i l 1945 Imphal and the sur rounding area became the major base f o r o p s r a t i o n s aj^ainst the Japanese i n Upper Burma,

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H i s t o r i c a l Backgrcmd (1)

The e a r l y h i s t o r y of haniT>ur i s obscure , s ince w r i t t e n recorc's more then 200 years o ld a re v i r t u a l l y non -ex i s t an t in t h a t a r e a . The t r a d i t i o n s which do e x i s t t e l l of f requen t invas ions from a l l s i d e s , and tlie f e a t u r e s of the i n h a b i t a n t s , which a r e part-raongoloid, p a r t Indo-Aryan, t e s t i f y to t h i s .

The f i r s t noteworthy event recorded i s t h a t about 1714 (or 1709?) a Naga named Panheiba became r u l e r of I 'aniour, adopted the Hindu r e l i g i o n and took the name Gharib Niwaz. This r u l e r was success fu l i n the frequent wars with Burnna, a l though he d id not make any permanent conques t s .

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Historical Backfrround (Continued)

Gharib Niwaz was murdered, alon^ with his eldest son in about 1750 and the rule passed first to his eldest survivin^^ son A jit Shah and then in 1756 to a younger son Bharat 3hah. The earliest dated coins of i anipur were struck during this year of 1756, but in the narae of Gaura Shah, It seems likely that Bharat Shah only ruled as Regent for Gaura Shah, the grandson of the murdered Gharib Niwaz, and although a cripple, the rii ?itful heir. The coins of 1756 were probably struclc on the occasion of the coronation as they recorJ ':he exact d^y of this event,

Bharat Shah died in 175?, and Gaura ^hah agreed to share his power with his brother Jai Singh, a much stronger individual. Soon after 1750, the Burnese, talcing advantage of the deat of Griarib "iwaz, hac bercun a series of invasions. By 1761 there was a grave danger tliat anipur would fall to the Burmese and Jai Singh appealed to the British for help. This was gr.-mted, and in 1762 British soldiers helped the anipuris to remilse the Burmese, and a treaty of alliance was si.Tned,

It is interesting- to note that at this time the British were told V.-'n.t as the Burmese had destroyed the greater port of lianipur, it was not - ossible to neet the expenses incurred by the British (rovemment ir sending troops. As a token of sincerity "500 meklee gold rupees, valued at twelve silver rupees each" were offered. The gold coins numbered 2, 3 and 4 below, which are dated 1762, must have been struck on this occasion.

Gaura Sh'-h died in 1764, rjid from then until 179^ lani-nur was heecioally ruled by Jai Singh, Invasions from Burma continued during the early part of his reign, and on at least three occasions he was driven from his coujitry, but he always managed to r'turn without having to csl3 on the British for help. His only known dated coin was struck in 1772, r.nd it is -orob-ble that he was not able to hold his foriaal coronation before that date. By the last ten "ears of his reign his position was secure, an- he was able to send military help to his neighbour in Assam, Ga 'orinatha ^ingh, when the latter had internal troubles.

Jai oingh abdicated in 179-3, and died the following year. The next 55 years was to see five of his eight sons on th throne, Ghaura.iit Singh, the thir<i of these brothers to become ruler, being the only one to continue th' silver coinage begun by his uncle.

In 1812 I'larajit Singh, a younger brother of Chaurajit, obtained the help of the Burmese and overthrew his elder brother. Initially he ruled as a vassal of the Burmese, but gra'lually he tried to act more and more indepen:lently. In 1819 he struck a fine gold coin but in the s me year the Burmese finally lost patience with him and threw him out to join his brothers in Kachar,

This Tjurmese invasion did not stop at i anipur, an' very quickly they m naged to conquer the whole of Assam, bringing to an end the ancient Kingdom of the Ahoms. 'Vhen the danger to British nosyessions in India became a-oparent, the British prepared to attack the Burmese, and in 1324 war was declared. Soon after, Garnbhir Singh, the youngest of the broth>?rs, asked the British for money and arms to help him recapture Lanipur. This was resdily - ranted r.nd in 1c25 Garnbhir Singh, xfho had helped significantly in the defeat of the Burmese, was recognized as Raja of I.anipur.

Garnbhir Singh's rale continued neacpfully until his death in 1834 leaving a son, Chandra Kirti, who was barely two veers old. Nar Singh, a great grandson of Gharib Niwaz was a' 'pointed .\egent. Chandra ' irti rifled - ominally until 1544 when there was an unsuccessul attempt on 'Tar Singh's life. The "ueen Mother was im-licated and fled to Kachar with h--r son, end liar S.'ngh vms made Raja.

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Historical Background (Continued)

He was succeeded at his death in 1850 by his brother Debendra Singh, whose reign lasted only three months before Chandra Kirti, now 18 years old, took advantage of Debendra's unpopularity and recaptured his throne early in 1851. In spite of numerous attempts to overthrow him, Chandra Kirti managed to retain power until his death in 1886, He was succeeded by his son Sura Chandra, but in 1890 his brothers Kula Chandra and Tikendrajit Singh ousted him and Kula Chandra was made Raja,

The position inside Kanipur rapidly deteriorated, and a full scale offensive was launched after several British Officials had been killed. Resistance was not strong and in Larch 1691 Tikendrajit was tried and later executed and Kula Chandra was denorted for life. In September 1891 the Govornor selected Chura Chandra Singh a descendent of Nar Sin h to be Raja of kanipur, but the administration was now in British iianda and never again was lïanipur allowed to strike coins.

Descendants of Gharib Niwaz

GHi^JÏIB in.\JAZ c

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1 s t Queen 1

1 S E Ï A : ' SriAH d . 1750

1 1 GAÜRA SI"GH

( o r GATFt.: OHAH)

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1 S A N A H A L

1 2nd ,ue

1 1

A J I T SEAE 1750-56

JAI SINGH ( o r BÏÏAGYA ( o r RAJA KP

1764-98

1 LABATTA CH.-i],T)RA 1798-1801

1714-1750

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1 TTGAT ;5HAH

CHANDRA) .RTA )

1 I'lADHU CHANDRA 1801-6

1 NTH 3EAH

1 TOHG 3HAH

1 TTTLSIJIT

1 SARB03A

( CHATJR/iJIT SI::GH 1803-12

1 CHH BHARAT SIIAII

1756-58

1 1 FJiRJIT GH;J-IBIR

SI'-GH SITiGH 1812-19 1826-34

SIJRA CH;.:DRA 1886-90

KIILA CHANDRA 1890-1

CHAiraRA KIRTI 1834-44 1C51-86

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R u l e r s of Kani-nur

Ghar ib Niwaz A j i t Shah B h a r a t Shah Gaura S i n g h J a i S i n g h Labanya Chandra I'ladhu Chandra C h a u r a j i t 3inc;h l i a r j i t S i n g h

1714-1750 1750-1756 1756-1758 1758-1764 1764-1798 1798-1801 1801-1806 1803-1812 i n 2 - 1 M 9

Huidromba Subo l Gainbhir o i n g h Jadu S ingh Rajrhab 3 i n g h Bhadra S i n g h G a n b h i r S i n g h Chandra K i r t i S i n g h Nar S ingh Chandra K i r t i S i n ^ h S u r a Chandra S ingh Kula ' h a n d r a S i n g h Chura Chandra S ingh

1C19-1820 1820-1821 1822-1623 1823-1824 1824-1825 1B25-1833 1033-184-1.843-184 9 1849-186 6 1886-1890 1890-1891 1891-1940

1st

2nd 1 s t

2nd

r e i g n

r e i g n re i i ?n

r e i g n

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Coinafre

The coinage of ' an inur has received sc.int a t t e n t i o n up to now, nrobahly because very f .-w examples of the sou- re s i l v e r rsi''^ giolr! coins s t r u c k u r i o r to 1812 have survived i n "^estern c o l l e c t i o n s , M-rsden (2) published a few of the coins of Gaura Singh and J a i Sihfh and Thorburn published one runee of Chaura.iit Sinfjh '3), but I knov; of no o ther records of these co ins . The squ^.re coin of Garbhir Sin^h W.TS publi^ihed by 3 .P . 3a sa i n J"3I fo r 1°65. The reason for the s c a r c i t y of these coins i s t h a t they were u sua l l y only s t ruck i n SÏÏI-^II q i ' an t i t i e s f o r ceremonial u s e . Ghanra j i t Singh was the only r u l e r v;ho seens to h'-ve made a re<\l atte'^-nt to in t roduce s i l v e r coins i n to the currency, but nost o'"" h i s coins were cai^ried away and melted by the B'lmese di ' r inf t h e - r occunation around 1P20.

The only coins s t ruck i n any i:iantitv i n I anipur vrere tho sir.all bell-mt^trl " s e l ' . ( 4 ) The exact d.ite of the i n t r o d u c t i o n of the^je coins i s no t c e r t a i n , but \n\3 urobably di^rin-^ the second ha l f of the e igh teen th cen tu ry . I'he coins i.-ei e •noT-mlar because they wpre s^ ' i tablp i?or the sripll ")urc pse^ '.laiie by the i r hab i t ' i n t s p.n\ they i-ere not valucbl '- enough for i t t o bo 'orth-'-rliile for the BurrieTe to sto^.l the-!. Botharn l i s t e d n nunber of these co ins i n h i s Catalorue of the Sli i l lonp Cabinet ( 5 ; , but I finu i t almost i'-'-^ossible to t i o un the coins l i s t e d bv hin with those t h a t I have seen , Bothan l i s t s co ins with the i n i t i a l l e t t e r s of p r a c t i c a l l y a l l the r u l e r s of ' an ipur from J a i Singh ( a l i a s Bhajya Chandra) to Kula Chandra, but omits the l e t t e r " S r i " , which i s ny f a r the corr 'onest of the l e t t e r s found on the s e l s . I t see'ns ce r t a i i i from the dozens of co ins uhich I have seen t h a t t h e l e t t e r s on the s e l s do no t , i n the main, corresuond with the i n i t i a l l e t t e r s of the r r l o r s ' names, nnd t h i s i s confirmed by doc'j'nents publ ished by ! a j o r Pridmore ( o ) . Here i t i s m-iue c l e a r tiiat an ausu ic ious l e t t e r was chosen a t the s t a r t of each reif^ vrith no l0£-ic apparent behind the choice , a l though " 3 r i " and "Ila" were chosen most f r eq ' i en t ly . In lay l i s t i n g below 1 g-i ve the l e t t e r s av' va-^iet ies Imovm '0 me, with •'in a t t r i b u t i o n wherever p o s s i b l e , ^ t he r v a r i e t i e s may -ell e x i s t , -1 though I f ee l t h a t Botham may have used h i s ima^jination on badly s t ruck s'oecimens i n arrivin^^ a t some of h i s readii- 'gs.

In I853 u.nd 15 5' t-ie Ca lcu t t a inint s t rucL a mwb r of s e l s to bo used for paT-.-ent of labour for b u i l d i n g a new road from J aninur to Ilachar. These coins were apparent ly b e t t s r mac'e then those s t ruck i n an ipur i t s e l f snd hac i the l e t t e r " a ' on them. The background to t h i s event i s ver;- f u l l y covered by Ta.ior rir'more, but as neitii '"r he nor I have ever seen " " a ' co ins t h " t .ook any b e t t r "frcduced than the oth.-r s e l s , I can give no c l e a r -"uide for reco-crisiug these C a l c u t t a s t r i rdn ' " s (7J .

These l i t t l e s e l s contir 'ued to be s t ruck 'n l-^rgp n'mb-^rs u n t i l 1891, v;he" the B r i t i s h f i n a l l y too"-: over t ' e - .dminis t ra t ion of the "'.tf'te. Thro^\'-hout the i'^th

century s i l v e r coins from I n d i a and Burma a l so c i r c ' i l n t ed , but wore vrjluod "ccordinp-to t h e i r metal cont-^nt, The r a t e of exchange wit ' t^e s e l s f l u c t u a t e d vath the ••'rice of s i l v e r ; before 153' "^ rupeo \-rns worth about ^'OG s e l , but dur ing th: ' t ye.'.r the value dro^oped sudderIj?- o-'.iin^ to ': l a ge i n f lux of s i l v e r fro:» I n d i a . 7rom 1>'5 onwards t'^e ru^oee exchanged f; r between 4^.0 an - 420 s e l s . Go o-npr never c i rcul ' i t ed u n t i l a f t e r lOQI, and one Lttom'pt by the "^.ritish to in t roduce copper coir.s in to the currency dur ing the lüóO's f a i l e d co' p l e t o l . I f t e r 1891 the B r i t i s h ijmosed Tudian currency onto the ir^habi t a r t s , --".n the s e l s g r a ' u r l l v disa^o ear=?d ;>on c i r d ' l a t i c r .

I l o t e s : - 1. Ky h i s t o r i c a l su'^^i-ary i s tcken rainl"- from . . . Roy's

•^History of ]-ianipur", Cc lcu t t a l^-'^;.

2, ";,u;ii3raa'La O r i - r t a l i a " , Lon-'on 1-25.

3, ' T o t e s on r Ten/ -.. re In-'i ' .n woins" J A J B Irj.XLII (192^'),

4 , .J\ assay J a-^e i n Ca lcu t t a -.ir^t in 1 5f showed the ffl'^'tal c o n t ' n t to be cori-ner V'l.^/', Tin 23,2; and .^inc 3,?/ ' ,

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notes (Contimied)

5 . "Catc,lot;^ie of tho P r o v i - c i a l Coin Cabinet Assam", Allahabad 1930.

6 . "The East I idia Company's "-ell e t a l Coinag-e for I.anipur r ' 3 B " . I'uch of ny infor , lat ion on the s e l s i s tal'^n froiri t h i s very i ^ t3 r e s t i n ' ' ' a r t i c l e , (>eabi«s T-iulletin Dec. 1972) .

7 . The Coin i l l u s t r a t e d by Ilajor .^rid'iore i s --. badly s t r u c k " 'Jr i ' ' coin turned sideways.

Catalo.r-'^e of lloins

Gaura "ihah (or 'Jayra Jii.iha) 1756-64

1. Gold Kupee. Dated 1670 (=1756 A.D.) Ut. 12.8 nis.

Obv. "Jo3ri Gaurasy-Ji a'"io irssvara ''

Rev. 'Taisakh Sudhi 1 3sT-iv;-'t 167C"

2. Gold rupee. Dated 1604 (=1762 A.1.) Tt. 11.6 -^13.

Obv. "Jesri Gaura oiraha ani-nnresvara pairni"

Rev. "Asara 3ulbi 13 Sa'^vat 16 -1"

3. Gold - lUT)ee. Dated 16'A (=1762 A.D.) I t . 5.8 frras.

Obv. "Jeori Gaura -i;üia ' an inn res vr ra" Rev. "Asara 3udri 13 3ar 1 Giy]."

4. Gold -f Rupee. Undated, but struck in 1762 A.D. Wt. 2.9 gras. Obv, "Jesri Gaura oinha" Rev. " -anxpuresvara"

5. Silver Rupee. Dated 167G (=1756 A.D.) 'it. 12.7 nis.

Obv. "Jesri Gaura Shall - anipuresvsrs "

Rev. "Tais-.ldi Su ihi \ . . . 1 3amvat 1676"

Uncer ta in 18th century ''It, 11.5 gms.

6. S i l v e r ,lupee. Barabarous i n s c r i p t i o n on both s i d e s ,

J a i 3inp:h 1764-179o

7 . Gold .upee. Jated 1694 (=1772 A.D.) 7 t . 11.6 ^r^s.

Obv, "Jaya SinJia Tripavararjya i^ka 1694" Rev. " 3 i i S r i Govindapadg ouraan I adhurkara^ya"

8 . S i l v s r 4" Rupee. Undated ' t . 5.9 gms.

Obv. "Sr i Jaya Sinhasya" Rev, "S r i Govinda Deva"

Chaura.iit oin,?h 1203-181 2

9 . S i l v e r Rupee Dated 172: (=1 06 A.D.) Wt. 11.4 ms.

Obv, "j in ipur" ' -vara i r i 3 r i Ghaura i i t Simha Kripavara^ya Saka 1726" Rev. " S r i l a Sr i Radha Govinda Charana Ravinda Iluf^al 3evakaaya"

/ 1 0 . S i l v e r Rupee. Drte^ 1734* (=1312 A.D.) Aleo : n c n for ' J t s .11 .1 -172° and 1732 11,4 ^ i s ,

Obv. "Sriraanmaniüurejvara 3r'K Chaurajit 3inha Rripavai^asya Sal<:a 1734" Rev, "3ri 1 adradha Govinuanada Ravinda akaraia Damano adhu . arasya"

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Gatalo^"nJe of Coins (Continued)

Chaura.jit Sin^h

11. Silver i Rupee. Dated 1726 (=1804 A.D.)

Obv. "S r i CLauraj i t Siniha -".'ripasya Saka 1726" Rev. "S r i S r i Radha Govinda Pada Sevaka"

12. Silver-3- Rupee Dated 1726 (=1804 A.D.) Wt. 2.7 gms.

Obv. "Sr i Chaura j i t Simhasya Saka 1726" Rev. "S r i Radha Govinda Pada Sevakasya"

15. S i l v e r y Rupeo. Dated 1729 (=*= 1807 A.D.) ¥ t . 5 . 0 gms.

Obv. "Sr i Chaura j i t Simhas Nripasya Saka 1729" Rev. "S r i ladha Govin Pada lïan Iladhu Kara"

Mar.iit Sinfch 1812 - 1819.

14. Gold Rupee. Dated 1741 (=1319 A.D.) Wt. 11.6 ^ s .

Obv, "SriaeTiianipur'^svara S r i I a r j i t Simha Kripavarasya" Rev. As obverse , but Saka 1741 on l a s t l i n e ,

Garr.bhir Sinprh 1S26 - 1';34.

15. Golrl Rupee. Dated I0.''r3 Chandrabdah (i.v.-. Lunar y e i r ) (= ? ) . Le'^end i n B'.'.ncali. Wt. 11.4 r's.

Obv. "Sr i Gai.ibir Simha Ilr ipavarasya Chandrabdah 104'5" Rev. " 3 r i Radha Govinda Charan Sevakasy^"

Anonynons Bell-r . ietal "iels

A l l coins have a -olain r eve r se , ' ' e i gh t s vary widely from O.4 to 1.5 gras. wi th a nean of about 0.7 gras.

16. S e l . "S r i " In f i n e s t ^ d e . Late 18th cen t , to c 1-190.

17. to Sel. "Sri" In a variety of stales. Ilostl' aft-r 1826. 22.

23. Sel, "Ka" This letter was being used in 183 : during the 1st reign of Chandra Ilirti, and may have been used earlier. Presumably this letter was chosen as it is the initial letter of "Kanipur", rather than the initial letter of I';ara.iit Singh.

24. Sel, "Ra?" Both these pieces may have a crude version of the Bengali to letter "ra", said by Temple (lA 189") to have been used 25. by Nara Singh (1834-50).

26. Sel, "Ka" I do not 'aiovf which ruler issue'"! this type, but from the worn state of the reirj few examples I have seen, I think that it was probably struck before 1' 20.

27. Sel, "La" The specimens I have seen with this letter all show very-little sign of wear, I think that it was struck late in the series, r erhH•ns by Sura Chandra (I886-90), Certainly

'••" "• t'Tis type was not struck by Labanya Chandra as stn.ted by •'• •• •." .- Bo than,

28. Sel, "Ku" The coins I have seen with this Berr-ali letter are al 0 in perfect cordition, and I assume tnot this c^in w;is struck by Kula Chandra (1590-1). This is the only exarple of the initial lotier of the Raja's ra-ne being chosen.

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