The Nicholas Rhodes Collection: Coins of North East India (Part 2)。Tripura, Ratna Manikya (1464-89), Tanka, 10.50g, Sk. 1386, Ratnapura, lion facing left within circle, legend around: Śrī Nārāyana Charana Para Ratnapure 1386, rev. Śrī Nārāyana/ Charana Para/ Śrī Śrī Ratna Mā/nikya Deva in double square with ornaments outside (RB. 8; KM. 5), good very fine, extremely rare. Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer?s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.。Ratna Manikya?s initial coinage had inscriptions on both sides. The lion design appears on his later coinage. Inspiration for the design must have come from rare issues of the Bengal sultans, Jalal al-Din Muhammad and Nasir al-Din Mahmud that feature a similar lion. In the Hindu religion, the lion is the vahana, or vehicle, of the goddess Durga. It is noteworthy than some subsequent Tripura issues actually include an invocation to the goddess. Ratnapura was the name of the Tripura capital, and is now known as Udaipur.
