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Auction: 389 - The John C. Huntington Collection - e-Auction
Lot: 274

Tibet. AR vartula Tangka, (issued 1763/4 or 1785). 27mm, 5.36 gms. Eight-spoked wheel in a single-lined central circle, the syllable dza in vartula script repeated eight times around. The same both sides. dza is equivalent to ja in Sanskrit, so it can be taken as a shortened ("Victorious"). Thus the coin depicts the "victorious wheel" - the dha rma ca kra (Buddha's teachings), the wheel of religion set in motion according to Buddhist tradition by Buddha in the deer sanctuary of Sarnath (Mrigadava), near Varanasi. C.5.2, YZM 252. Very rare. Somewhat crude strike as typical. Very Fine.

Sold for
$3,000

Starting price
$1200