THE NICHOLAS RHODES COLLECTION - COINS OF TIBETTIBETAN PATTERN COINSThe Tibetan pattern coins of the 20th Century are among the rarest and most desirable items a collector of Tibetan coins can hopeto acquire for his collection. Some of them were struck in England, while others were struck in Tibet and are inspired by Britishprototypes and yet others are of pure Tibetan design. Most of them were described and illustrated by Nicholas Rhodes andWolfgang Bertsch and were more recently illustrated in Chinese publications, such as those edited by Zhu Jinzhong (and others,2002), Cao Gang (1999), and more recently in the catalogues by Wang Haiyan (2007), Ying Zheng Min (2004) and Wang ChunLi (2012). For more details on these publications see the bibliography in the introductory part of this catalogue. Most of theTibetan pattern coins were also listed with illustrations in the older editions of the Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-2000of Krause Publications; however, the illustrations were omitted for no obvious reasons in more recent editions of these catalogues.The Rhodes collection includes the largest group of Tibetan pattern coins ever to be offered at a public auction.297 Tibet, Anonymous (c.1910), 10-Tam pattern, 27.4g, undated, norbu within centralsquare panel within a second square divided by diagonal lines, legend (starting in theupper trapezium and continuing clockwise) dga’ ldan pho brang phyogs las rnam rgyal (theGaden Palace, victorious in all directions), denomination near the rim at 12 o’clock and6 o clock: tam bcu (“ten Tam”) only the letter “t” of the word “tam” is visible, rev. fivesymbols within a circular panel, surrounded by the eight auspicious symbols within alotus-petal design (YZM 381; KM Pn 3), in PCGS holder, graded SP63, very fine andextremely rareHK$120,000-150,000(US$15,000-20,000)PROVENANCE:Ex. Karl Gabrisch collection. Baldwin, Ma Tak Wo, Monetarium & Gillio Auction,Hong Kong, 1 September 2005, lot 176.The weight standard of this pattern coin seems to be modelled on Chinese silver Taels,which again followed the weight standard of the South American and Mexican 8-Realessilver coins.The obverse of the coin shows the same design and inscription as the well-known MonkTangka (KM Y#14). The double arches attached to the trapeziums are copied from theNepalese Mohars struck in the name of Pratap Simha which were specially struck forexport to Tibet. The denomination tam bcu (“ten Tam”) has only the letter “t” of theword “tam” visible, as the final letter “m” is probably indicated by a small circle (inSanskrit known as anusvãra) placed above the letter “t”, off flan.The reverse design is only found on this coin. It represents the five symbolic objects whichstimulate the senses (Tibetan: ´don yon sna lnga): The mirror (me long) symbolizes thephysical forms (gzugs) that appeal to the eye. The two peaches (shing tog) on either sideof the mirror are pleasing to the taste (ro). The pair of cymbals (sil snyan) below themirror represent the sounds (sgra) which reach the ear. The pieces of cloth that areattached to the cymbals excite the sense of touch (reg bya). The conch shell (dung) belowthe cymbals is supposed to contain a fragrant liquid which stimulates the faculty of smell.No example of this pattern seems to exist in China. The illustration in the catalogue ofYZM (no. 381) has been copied (without indicating the source) from Gabrisch, Karl:Geld aus Tibet. Sammlung Dr. Karl Gabrisch, Winterthur and Rikon, 1990, plate 21, no.90. The same coin from a European collection (not the specimen from the Rhodescollection) is illustrated by Wang Chun Li: “Illustrated Catalogue of Chinese Gold & SilverCoins; 1791-1949” (Zhong guo jin yin bi mu lu), Zhong guo shang ye chu ban she (ChinaTrade Publishing House), Beijing 2012, p. 89, no. WS0275.There exists a smaller coin (29.2mm) of the same design the obverse of which is inscribednear the rim with the syllables tam lnga (five tam) and is illustrated by YZM as no. 387.WWW.SPINK.COM
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