Jorhat, July 18: Noted numismatist of Assam O.P. Gattani today claimed to have discovered a rare silver coin of the Ahom era dating back to 1739 AD.

Gattani, who has the world’s largest collection of 950 Ahom coins, said the rare silver coin issued in the name of Queen Sarvesvari, third wife of King Shiva Singha (1714-1744 AD), was the only one to have been found in Assam till date.

Several coins belonging to the era are kept in the London museum.

He said the coin was given to him a couple of months ago by a goldsmith who had got it from a villager near here. “The goldsmith subsequently informed me,” he said.

The numismatist said it was only during Ahom King Shiva Singha’s reign that coins were issued in the names of his queens also. King Shiva Singha’s first wife was Queen Phuleswari, after whose death he married her sister Ambika. After Ambika’s death, he married her sister Sarvesvari.

Gattani’s book on Ahom coins is slated for release tomorrow. It is the only one of its kind on the subject.

“The book has details about Ahom coins from Suklenmung (1539-1552 AD) to Purandar Singha (1833-1838 AD),” Gattani said.