26 April,2009 06:15 AM IST | | Ayesha Nair
A SPOKE in the wheel of a rather successful auction was the withdrawal of a Rs 4 lakh-worth (estimated) Shivaji gold coin to 'maintain the law and order situation' in the state.u00a0
Auction house Todywalla held their 35th and 36th auction over the weekend, of coins and notes. Nearly 650 items were to go under the hammer, and 80 per cent of them were sold for bids either higher than the estimate or just about the estimated price.
Listing the items that had a successful auction, Malcom Todywalla, whose father, Farokh Todywalla, began the auction house 42 years ago says, "The Jahangir Zodiac Coin was sold for over Rs three lakh, twice its estimated price. A two-rupee coin, a rarity from the East India Company, was auctioned for 1.8 lakh. We are very satisfied with the auction."
Though what played spoilsport was the fact that the auction house had to withdraw its main attraction a gold coin known as the Gold Hoan struck during Shivaji Maharaj's coronation at Raigad and showered upon him. It is rumoured to be only one of 10 Hoans that are in existence today. On being asked the reason behind this, Malcom takes some time to put across the reason in the least controversial manner. "We were asked to withdraw the coin to maintain a law and order situation. There is no controversy. We did not receive any threats," he says, adding that the coin would not be up for auction anytime soon.
Looks like collectors will have to give up the dream of owning this treasured piece of Indian heritage.
