(sold for $42.0)

1850, India, Hindu Rama Sita. Large Silver Votive Tanka (Temple Token) Coin. VF

Condition: VF
Mint Place: Uncertain
Mint Year: 19th-20th Century
Denomination: Hindu Rama-Sita Votive Silver Tanka
References: Mitchiner 4705-4708 var. (there in rupee weight - ca. 12gm!)
Weight: 23.33gm (double-rupee weight!)
Material: Silver (average purity!)
Diameter: 36mm

Obverse: Rama and his consort Sita enthroned on platform with attendants at sides. Hanuman (as ape) left beneath platform.

Reverse: Rama, with trident standing beside Laksmana, with bow.

Indian religious tokens were used as presentation pieces at temples and funerals, as well as gifts to friends and colleagues. Typical scenes are of Rama and Siva (hence the generic term "ramatanka" for these tokens), but other deities from the Hindu pantheon also show up. Most are of silver-washed base metal, only early issues are mede of good silver, like the one offered here. Most are Hindu, from Calcutta and Bombay, but examples for Sikhs, Muslims and even Christians are also to be found. Similar pieces in gold served as a handy repository of wealth, and would also be included in bridal dowries.

Hanuman is a Hindu deity, who was an ardent devotee of Rama according to the Hindu legends. He is a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and its various versions. He also finds mentions in several other texts, including Mahabharata, the various Puranas and some Jain texts. A vanara (ape-like humanoid), Hanuman participated in Rama's war against the demon king Ravana. Several texts also present him as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. He is also considered the son of Vayu, who according to several mythological stories, played a role in his birth.

Rama is the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in Hindu scriptures. In a few Rama-centric sects, Rama is considered the Supreme Being, rather than an avatar. Rama was born in Suryavansha (Ikshvaku Vansham) later known as Raghuvansha after king Raghu. When depicted with his brother Lakshman and consort Sita, with Hanuman kneeling in a state of prayer, this form is called Ram Parivar, and is the typical fixture depicting Rama in Hindu mandirs, or temples. The Hindi word parivar translates as "family."

Prior to the eleventh century there were no temples to Rama, since he was viewed as human. Rama bhakti poetry starts to emerge only in the sixteenth century. However, the Archaeological Survey of India found ancient remains of a temple in the Rama Janmabhoomi in a survey conducted in 1992 indicating the existence of pre-ancient Rama worship.

Rama is one of the many popular figures and deities in Hinduism, specifically Vaishnavism and Vaishnava religious scriptures in South and Southeast Asia. In Ayodhya, the Indian city believed to be the birthplace of Rama, he is also worshipped as an infant or Rama Lalla. Most of the details of Rama's life come from the Ramayana, one of the two great epics of India.

Born as the eldest son of Kausalya and Dasharatha, king of Ayodhya, Rama is referred to within Hinduism as Maryada Purushottama, literally the Perfect Man or Lord of Self-Control or Lord of Virtue. Rama is the husband of Sita, whom Hindus consider to be an Avatar of Lakshmi and the embodiment of perfect womanhood.

Rama's life and journey is one of perfect adherence to dharma despite harsh tests of life and time. He is pictured as the ideal man and the perfect human. For the sake of his father's honour, Rama abandons his claim to Kosala's throne to serve an exile of fourteen years in the forest. His wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, unable to live without Rama, decide to join him, and all three spend the fourteen years in exile together. While in exile, Sita is kidnapped by Ravana, the Rakshasa (Asura) monarch of Lanka. After a long and arduous search that tests his personal strength and virtue, Rama fights a colossal war against Ravana's armies. In a war of powerful and magical beings, greatly destructive weaponry and battles, Rama slays Ravana in battle and liberates his wife. Having completed his exile, Rama returns to be crowned king in Ayodhya (the capital of his kingdom) and eventually becomes emperor, rules with happiness, peace, prosperity and justice�a period known as Rama Rajya.

Rama's courage in searching for Sita and fighting a terrible war to rescue his wife and their honour is complemented by Sita's absolute devotion to her husband's love, and perfect chastity despite being Ravana's captive. Rama's younger brothers, namely Lakshmana, Shatrughna and Bharata strongly complement his piety, virtue and strength, and they are believed by many to belong to the Maryada Purushottama and the Seventh Avatara, mainly embodied by Rama. Rama's piety and virtue attract powerful and devoted allies such as Hanuman and the Vanaras of Kishkindha, with whose help he rescues Sita. The legend of Rama is deeply influential and popular in the societies of the Indian subcontinent and across South East Asia. Rama is revered for his unending compassion, courage and devotion to religious values and duty.

There is mention of another Rama in history. In Mahabharata, we find the mention of Rama, the son of Jamadagni. Between Treta and Dwapar yugas, on perceiving so much of wrongs around him, annihilated the Kshatriyas and formed five pools of blood at Samanta-panchaka, which later was the place where Kauravas and Pandavas waged a mighty war at the end of the Dwapara Yuga. He offered the blood to his ancestors. Richika was the first one to arrive, and forgave him for annihilating the Kshatriyas, and also gave a boon that Samanta-panchaka will be famous as holy shrines.