Bengal Sultanate, Danujamarddana Deva (Saka 1339-1340/AH 819-821/1416-1418 AD), Chatigrama (Chatgaon) Mint, Silver Tanka, SK 1339, Obv: Bengali legend "sri sri danuja marddana deva" within a double hexagon, Rev: Bengali legend "sri chandi charana parayana" within a scalloped circle, 10.4g, 29.00mm, (G&G # B315), original patina, usual countermarks, choice extremely fine, Extremely Rare.

Note: Danujamarddana Deva, also known as Raja Ganesha, was the first Hindu to sit on the throne of Bengal Sultanate in the Saka era 1339 (AH819/1416 AD). Raja Ganesha was a Hindu landlord of Bhaturia in North Bengal. He came to serve in Ilyas' court at the time of Ghiyas ud-din Azam Shah. He continued to serve the succeeding Sultans of Bengal before seizing control soon after the death of Sultan Bayazid. He took advantage of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty's administerial weaknesses, to come to the power. Some have argued against this identification of 'Raja Ganesha' as 'Danujamarddana Deva'.

The fact remains that this ruler was able to strike coins in Pandua(Firuzabad), Sunargaon, and Chatgaon during his reign and thus had control of a large area of Bengal. The only person to be in that position to our knowledge is Raja Ganesha, and the dates fit. He is the first ruler who issued coins in Bengali script and language and they are dated in the Saka era.

His coins usually have one or more, sometimes many, shroff marks on the face. The present coin is free of such marks on the face.

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