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2 Paisa 'Lohiya Paisa / Black Paisa' Magnetic
| Issuer | Nepal |
|---|---|
| Year | 1800-1880 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Cast |
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| Obverse description | Plain, undecorated field across the entirety of the obverse surface, typical of cast copper-iron alloy pieces of this type. The flan is irregular and roughly square in outline with rounded, uneven edges characteristic of the primitive casting method employed. The surface displays a dark, almost black patina — a distinguishing trait of the so-called 'Lohiya' or 'Black Paisa' — with areas of reddish-brown copper and patches of green corrosion. No inscriptions, devices, or decorative elements are present. The crude, utilitarian nature of the piece reflects its role as low-denomination coinage produced for everyday commerce in nineteenth-century Nepal. |
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| Mintage | ND (1800-1880) |
| Additional information |
The "Lohiya Paisa" designation — lohiya meaning iron in Nepali — reflects the deliberate iron content introduced into these copper coins, which gave them an unusually dark surface and magnetic properties distinct from standard copper issues of the period. The Nepalese monetary system of this era was notoriously inconsistent, with coins struck across multiple Kathmandu Valley mints under successive Shah rulers, and weight standards fluctuating considerably within a single reign. The eighty-year attribution window in the reference is an honest admission that die linkage and reign assignment for these pieces remain unresolved.