Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 1616. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

INDIA, Islamic Sultanates. Bengal. Danuja Marddana Deva (Raja Ganesa), Hindu usurper. 1416-1418. AR Tanka (10.70 gm, 2h). Chatigrama (=Chatgoan=Chittagong) mint. Dated Saka 1339 (1416 AD). Bengali legend with Danuja's titles; border of ellipses and chevrons / Bengali legend with Danuja's titles in double square; date in margin. CIS B316; Rajgor 305; Mitchiner, Land of Water 205; MWI -. Good VF, one weak spot. Rare. ($1000)

The Danuja Marddana Deva cited on this rare coin is in all likelihood Raja Ganesa, a local Hindu zamindar (chieftain) who exercised the real authority in the province of Bengal behind a series of figureheads before taking power himself. He first came to power under Azam Shah (1389-1410) and was the de facto ruler of Bengal under Hamzah, Bayadzid, Firuz and his own son Jalal al-Din Muhammad before taking the reins directly as Danuja Marddana and issuing these rare Bengali script tankas. His aggressively pro-Hindu stance provoked an outcry from his Muslim countrymen, who called for the assistance of Ibrahim Shah of Jaunpur. Ibrahim invaded Bengal, deposed Danuja Marddana and re-installed Jalal al-Din Muhammad, who moderated his father's policies. Raja Ganesa was killed during this turbulent time, and he has become a symbol for the nationalist Hindu movement in India today.