2016-02-02 Tue

The most expensive sale in the history of Indian numismatics is awaited at the Todywala auctions in Mumbai. A rare gold coin featuring the zodiac sign of Scorpio minted by emperor Jehangir is expected to fetch an impressive Rs. 80 lakh or more.

This spectacular Scorpio gold mohur is 2 cm in diameter and is one of the rarest zodiac coins which have never been sold in India before. Emperor Jehangir minted a series of gold and silver coins depicting 12 zodiacs.

The gold mohur was struck in Hijri 1031 which is 1621 AD. Moreover, in an auction held in New York on January 6th, another Jehangiri Scorpio gold Zodiac mohur minted in Agra in the year 1618 CE was sold for $450,000 that is approximately Rs 3.11 crore.

The obverse features a scorpion emerging from the radiant sun in the background. The reverse has a Persian legend, "Yaft dar Agra rui zar zewar, Az Jehangir Shah Shah Akbar" roughly translating to "The face of gold received ornaments at Agra, from Jehangir Shah Akbar Shah".

Apart from this rare beauty, many other rare coins will be auctioned at the event including a Shivaji Maharaj rupee with the Maratha warrior king paying obeisance to Goddess Jagdamba and a gold mohur of empress Noorjehan which is estimated to be sold for Rs 50 lakh.