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1/2 Sovereign - Rama Varma IV
| Issuer | Travancore, Kingdom of |
|---|---|
| Year | 1881 |
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| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 3.96 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Latin |
| Obverse lettering | SRI RAMA VARMA MAHARAJA OF TRAVANCORE 1881 |
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| Additional information |
Travancore maintained its own gold coinage well into the British Raj period, a privilege jealously guarded by successive rulers and tolerated by the Crown given the state's cooperative political posture. Rama Varma IV reigned only from 1880 to 1885, making issues from his tenure scarce by simple arithmetic of time.
The sovereign-weight standard adopted here mirrors the British model deliberately — Travancore's gold was accepted in commerce well beyond its own borders precisely because merchants trusted the fineness.