Chaurajit Simha, Silver Square Rupee, 11.54g, SE1734, Obv: Sanskrit legend “Shri man-Manipureshwara Shri Chaurajita Simha Nrupawarasya Shāke 1734”, Rev: Sanskrit legend “Shri mad-Rādhā-Govinda-Padāravinda Makaranda Manomadhukarasya” (R&B# 25, KM# C 57). Very fine, extremely rare. Chaurajit Simha became the ruler of Manipur after defeating his brother Madhu Chandra (who had succeeded murdering another brother Labanya Chandra) in the chaotic times that resulted following the abdication of their father Jaya Simha in 1798. He appears to have struck silver rupees of reasonable fineness with a degree of regularity – however, as Rhodes & Bose have remarked, it is not yet certain whether they were struck for circulation of for use in royal rituals. In Rhodes & Bose’s view, Manipur was a poor state and it probably would not have sustained the issue of silver coins due to lack in demand because of their high purchasing power.