SIKH EMPIRE: AV 1/4 mohur (2.47g), Amritsar, VS1882 (1825), KM-23, a wonderful mint state example: All Sikh gold of Amritsar is extremely rare, aside from the small gold rupees struck at Multan dated VS1905, but fractional gold is of the greatest rarity. There are only about 5 half mohurs filed on CoinArchives, but no quarter mohurs. Herrli cited just over ten known dated for the full mohur, just one year for the half mohur, and only a reference that two dates "have been reported" for the quarter mohur, PCGS graded MS64, RRR. It is likely that all fractional gold was normally intended only for decorative purposes, such as bracelets or necklaces, and not for normal circulation. In my opinion, even the full mohur and the exceedingly rare double mohur were likely not produced for circulation, but also either for decoration or as special awards. The only exception was the gold rupee (1/15 mohur) for Multan dated VS1905 (1848/49), which was an emergency issue struck during the siege of Multan by the British forces. Virtually all Sikh gold, mostly of Amritsar but also a few of Lahore and Multan, were struck during the period 1800-1845. For general circulation there was an abundant supply of alternative gold coins, such as the mohurs and fractions of the British East India Company, as well as contemorary local issues of Jaipur, Jodhpur, and other princely states, as well as Durrani and imported foreign coins. This would help explain the great rarity of all Sikh gold coins.

Estimate: USD 40000 - 50000