Gold 2 Rupees, 2.0g, Ceremonial issue, SE 1837/AD 1915, struck for the thread ceremony of Vasudeo Atmaram Deshprabhu. Traces of mount otherwise extremely fine+, very rare.
The Deshprabhus of Pedne in North Goa were a landed feudal family of considerable fortunes. In early 20th century, Atmaram Vasudeo Deshprabhu, who held the titles of ‘Moce Fidalgo’ and ‘Visconde’ (Viscount) of Pernem, was the chief of the estate. He was an enlightened elite, a social reformer and also a coin collector. He struck these special coins worth 2-rupees each in gold, to be given as Dakshina to the priests and to other important guests and members of extended family. Sanskrit legend “Vasudevopanayana” (= Vasudeva’s Thread Ceremony) / “Sam-sma” (= short for ‘Samsmaraneeya’ = ‘commemorative’) on reverse.