The Nicholas Rhodes Collection: Coins of North East India (Part 2)。Sikkim (1883-85), AE Paisas (5), different varieties, VS 1940, 1941 (2), 1942, date not visible, Śrī Śrī Śrī Sikimapati Mahāraj, rev. Śrī Śrī Śrī Sikima Sarkara, (KM. 1, 2, 3.1), crude fine to very fine, all scarce (5). Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer?s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.。There was no local coinage in Sikkim until the arrival of a number of Nepalese traders in the late 19íth century. The Nepalese Pradhan brothers acquired some land and also the right to mine copper. Some of this copper they wished to use for striking coins which they hoped they could use for trade with Nepal and the Darjeeling area. The coins, often poorly struck, are similar to contemporary Nepalese copper coins, except for the Sikkim legend. They were struck between 1883 and 1885. The dies bore dates but few of the coins show the date clearly. Parts of a date can be seen on a couple of the present coins. The weights of the issues vary between 4 and 6g. Some coins have the obverse legend in 3 lines, others in 4 lines. This coin issue was not a success as neither the British nor the Nepalese allowed their circulation within their respective jurisdictions.
