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Shah Dynasty
Tribhuvana Bir Bikram
Gold Tola
Item number: A159
Year: AD 1912
Material: Gold
Size: 26.0 x 26.0 mm
Manufactured by: Nepal
Provenance: Heritage Auctions 2023
This is a coin minted during the reign of Tribhuvan (r. AD 1911-1950), the ninth ruler of the Shah dynasty of Nepal, in the year AD 1912. The gold coin, known as the Tola, weighs 180 g. Both sides of the coin are surrounded by a beaded rim. The obverse side features a Mandala symbol, a common motif in Newar art, composed of rectangles and circles. Above the rectangle, the Devanagari script reads “Shri” twice, symbolizing auspiciousness and reverence in Buddhism. Inside the rectangle, the king’s full name, Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah Deva, is inscribed in Devanagari script.
The reverse side of the coin features a lotus motif, one of the “Ashtamangala” symbols, with three “Shri” inscriptions adorning the petals, symbolizing praise for the Hindu Mahasiddha Gorakhnath. In the center, there are four Devanagari inscriptions praising the Hindu goddess Bhavani, along with an conceptual representation of a royal sword hilt.
The design of this gold coin serves as evidence of Nepal’s pivotal role at the southern foothills of the Himalayas, facilitating significant cultural interaction between Hinduism from the Indian subcontinent and Tibetan Buddhism from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The religious and artistic culture of Nepal exhibits profound influences from both regions.
