Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 2043. Estimate $4000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005.  Sold For $4200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

INDIA, Princely States. Kutch. Madanasinghji Vijayrajji. 1948-1991. AV 5 Kori ­ Mohur (18.70 gm, 12h). "Jai Hind-Free India" issue. Dated VS2004 (1948 AD). City gate of Bhuj within circle of leaves / Legend with crescent, trisul, knife and date. Edge lettered: KUTCH BHUJ. Bruce XM 8. Mint state. Extremely rare and historically important. ($4000)

The gold off-metal strikes of the silver 5 Kori and 1 Kori commemorate the independence of India in 1947, and are among the last issues of the Indian Princely States. The reported mintages for the gold strikes are 30 pieces each. Madanasinghji succeded his father in January 1948, and later that same year lost his temporal authority when Kutch was incorporated into the new state of Gujurat. His son Pragmalji Madansinghji III still retains the ancestral palace at Bhuj.