166, Lot: 222. Estimate $75. Sold for $45. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

INDIA, Independent States. Mysore. Tipu Sultan. 1782-1799. Æ Paisa (28mm, 11.50 g). Farrukhi mint. Dated AM 1217 (AD 1788). Elephant advancing left; date above / Mint formula. Henderson 433; KM 53.2. Good VF, partial flat strike.

Tipu initiated an extensive reform campaign in Mysore, which included public construction projects, expansion of trade, modern military training (including the use of rockets), as well as his fine copper, silver, and gold coinage. One of his more unusual innovations was the introduction of a new calendar, the Mauludi era, a solar era dating from the birth of Mohammad, not the Hegira. The Mauludi dated coins began with AM 1215 (AD 1786) and starting with AM 1224 were also sequentially numbered with Persian numerals.