Page 1 of 18
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 9, No. 9
Publication Date: September 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/assrj.99.13109. Hauret, P. (2022). The Chittagonian Coinage of Arakan’s Royal Sons. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(9). 361-378.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
The Chittagonian Coinage of Arakan’s Royal Sons
Philip Hauret
Independent Scholar/Researcher, Honolulu, Hawaii USA
ABSTRACT
A researcher approaching the multi-lingual coins of the former Kingdom of Arakan
(circa 1430-1784) must overcome many challenges. Difficult to read specimens,
incorrect translations, poor scholarship and at times deficient photography within
the existing treatments, when one can find them, are some of the obstacles
encountered. Despite all the recent attention the Rohingya controversy has brought
to these coins, studying them can still be productive of new information about
Arakan. The objectives of this article are relatively modest, nonetheless. It will focus
on a particular series of multi-lingual coins issued by a number of Arakanese- appointed governors of the Chittagong region, located in present-day Bangladesh,
beginning in the 1570’s and ending circa 1612, with the aim of correcting some
mistranslations and errors in descriptions as well as uncovering additional
information about these governors, particularly those who were sons of Arakanese
kings. It will also assess the effectiveness of the numismatic evidence in
approximating the succession of these governors during the subject period. We will
be assisted in this endeavor by the sale at auction of a major collection of
Chittagonian coins in 2011 by Stephen Album Rare Coins (SARC) of Santa Rosa,
California, a numismatic dealer specializing in Asian coinage. This unmatched
assemblage of over 75 specimens offers students of Arakanese numismatics an
unprecedented opportunity to study these coins, as today’s on-line auctions provide
quality digital photography unavailable in the past.
Keywords: Arakan, coins, numismatics, Burma, Myanmar, Chittagong
INTRODUCTION
With the coming to the throne by King Min Palaung1 in 1571 (r. 1571-93), the kingdom of
Arakan entered a phase of its history that Jacques Leider has called the “L’époque de Rois
Guerriers,” or the Age of the Warrior Kings, which continued in his periodization scheme for
approximately fifty years [1]. Arakan’s most important territorial acquisition during this time
was the region of Chittagong, which at its greatest extent could be roughly defined as the
territory north of the town of Ramu in present-day southeastern Bangladesh to a frontier
demarcated by the Feni River and the southern-most boundary of the state of Tripura in
northeast India, and from the Bay to Bengal to a line west of the current international boundary
between India and Bangladesh and Myanmar and Bangladesh [1]. Included in this region would
be the important port of Chittagong located on the northern bank of the Karnaphuli River,
which during the second half of the sixteenth century was the focus of power struggles between
the Sultanate of Bengal, the kingdoms of Tripura and Arakan and local lords and governors who
1 There is no universally accepted transcription system for the Burmese or Arakanese languages. Therefore, we will employ the most
commonly used transcriptions for Arakanese words and names.
Page 2 of 18
362
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 9, Issue 9, September-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
oftentimes exercised surprising independence from these three powers and could be
considered minor monarchs in their own right [2]. See Figure 1 for a map of the Kingdom of
Arakan.
Figure 1. The Kingdom of Arakan, Early 17th Century
Dhaka
Ganges River
RiRiver
Bangladesh
India
Burma
Dianga
Chittagong
Sandwip Is.
Ramu
Mrauk-U
Pegu
Syriam
Key:
- - - - - - Kingdom Boundary
_____ Current International
Boundaries
N
Tripura
Page 3 of 18
363
Hauret, P. (2022). The Chittagonian Coinage of Arakan’s Royal Sons. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(9). 361-378.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.99.13109
During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries prior to the ascent of Min Palaung, Arakan achieved
a relatively steady control of the Ramu area, but only occasional and temporary control of the
port, and certainly did not have the predominant control of Chittagong beginning in the mid- fifteenth century as alleged in one of the early histories of Burma [3]. Yet it was a prize worth
fighting for as the appanage of Chittagong was one of the most lucrative fiefdoms that could be
granted by an Arakanese king. Despite its importance, Leider notes that the historical sources
do not set forth a clear succession of the governors who were privileged to receive this
appanage, and a study of the coinage is required if one wishes to identify them and approximate
their terms in office [1]. One of the objectives of this article will be to test the effectiveness of
the numismatic evidence in this task.
In his historical treatment of the Chittagong region, Suniti Qanungo calls the years between
1538 and 1576 the Afghan period of Bengal’s history, during which the Karrani family ruled the
sultanate from 1564 to 1576. In contrast, Richard Eaton dates the Afghan period differently,
marking its commencement in 1537 and its demise in 1612, when the Mughals suppressed the
last of the Afghan resistance in eastern Bengal. Qanungo dates the Mughals’ defeat of Daud
Karrani and their seizure of Gaur, Bengal’s capital, in 1576, while Eaton notes the fall of the
Karrani capital in September 1574 and correctly contends it had been moved from Gaur to
Tanda prior to the arrival of the conquering Mughals. Notwithstanding these minor differences,
this provides us a basic outline of the relevant history of Bengal, but events in Chittagong are
much more difficult to establish, as the same period witnessed much fighting over Chittagong
between the Sultanate, Tripura and Arakan, exacerbated by the presence of a Portuguese
community that was frequently divided into separate factions that pursued their respective
interests in a complex political and economic environment. Simply put, the source materials do
not allow a clear picture [2, 4, 5]. After the Mughal conquest of Tanda, Arakan was able to exploit
the resulting political weaknesses in Bengal to advance northward [6], but when Arakan
achieved any actual control over Chittagong is subject to disagreement among the authorities,
some of whom concede that firm control of the port most probably did not occur until the late
1580’s or 1590 [7]. One way to determine when Arakanese control was obtained, even if only
partially, is to examine the dates of a number of Arakanese coins minted in the port and for
which royal party, as it is generally believed that during this period Arakan had no mint in
Mrauk-U, its capital, and the minting of Arakanese coins in Ramu, as distinct from the so-called
Chittagonian “trade coinage”, had by the 1530’s come to an end [8].
ARAKAN’S TERRITORIAL EXPANSION INTO CHITTAGONG
Leider believes Arakanese domination of Chittagong was not achieved until 1589, and notes
that no single event or military campaign marks the establishment of its effective political
control: “The extension of Arakanese hegemony did not necessarily take place by sheer force
as no Arakanese (nor any other) sources report a single momentary military conquest of the
port-city. Numismatic evidence would suggest that at first local Muslim governors came under
Arakanese authority before direct rule was exerted by Arakanese princes.” (emphasis in
original) [9] (p. 349). He uses the expression “gradual conquest” to describe the take-over of
Chittagong and cites 1578 as the earliest time Arakan could have had any control of the city [9].
On the other hand, Michael Mitchiner contends Arakan obtained control of the port as early as
1575, based on the all-Persian coins of Min Palaung dated After Hijra (AH) 983, or Christian Era
(CE) 1575 (Mitchiner coin nos. 300-01 [M-300-01]), which should not be confused with his later
trilingual coins [8]. In contrast, both Qanungo and Vasant Chowdhury believe Arakan could not
Page 4 of 18
364
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 9, Issue 9, September-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
have had any control over Chittagong until 1580. Qanungo argues the necessity of fending off a
threat to Arakan by the Burmese and expelling the Tripurese from Chittagong made occupancy
earlier than 1580 unlikely, while Chowdhury contends 1580 was the date Arakan expelled a
local governor named Jalal Khan to establish its own control [2, 10].
But Leider is not entirely ignoring the 1575 coin of Min Palaung, and interprets its date as the
moment an existing Chittagonian governor named Cicala, also called on his all-Persian coin Jalal
Khan (M-302-03), submitted to Arakanese rule. The Arakanese chronicles date his submission
circa 1575, and from other events it can be dated between 1574 and 1577 [1, 8]. Mitchiner has
a different view, saying: “Jalal Khan was appointed when Min Palaung conquered Chittagong
(983) [AH 983/CE 1575]” [8] (p.130), but Mitchiner cites no source and Jalal Khan’s coins (M- 302-03) are undated. We conclude, therefore, that the characterization of this act as a
confirmation in office, not an appointment, receives the most support. Unfortunately, we are
left to wonder exactly what sort of possession of Chittagong would compel Jalal Khan to submit
to Arakanese rule. But whatever form it took, it was sufficient to obligate or authorize Jalal Khan
to issue all Persian coins in the name of Min Palaung, a power that Chittagongian governors
possessed during Arakanese control [1]. See Table 1 for a list of the subject kings and governors
and their reigns or terms in office.
Table 1. List of Arakanese Kings and Chittagonian Governors
Name of
Ruler Status
Reign or Term in
Office Also Known As
Dates of
Coinage Coin Identifiers
Min Palaung King of Arakan 1571-1593
Sikandar Shah,
Thikauntara
Shah
1575,
1584,
1581 or
1590
Mitchiner (M)-300-01;
M-307-10
Jalal Khan
Governor of
northern
Chittagong 1575 (?)-1580 Cicala Undated M-302-03
Adam Shah
Governor of
southern
Chittagong 1575-1586 Adam Humayun Undated M-295-99
Wamar
Governor of
northern
Chittagong 1580-1586 N/A 1580 M-304-06
Min Saw Hla
Governor of
Chittagong
1581-1595 or
1581-1597 Minnala 1591
M-311-13; SARC Lots
1277 and 1128
Min Raza Kyi King of Arakan 1593-1612 Selim Shah
1593,
1601 M-314-17; M-328-31
Islam Shah
Governor of
Chittagong
1595-1597 or only
1597
Min Man Kyi,
Alamanja,
Anoporan 1597
M-318-20; SARC Lot
1130
Halal Shah
Governor of
Chittagong
1597-1602 or
1597-1607
Sinabadi,
Senapati
1597,
1598
M-321-24; SARC Lots
1131 and 1132
Min Nyo
Governor of
Chittagong 1608-1609
Min Ňui,
Anoporan, Min
Man Kyi N/A N/A
Cakrawate
Governor of
Chittagong 1610-1612
Suleman Shah,
Min Man Kyi 1611 SARC Lot 1135
Min
Khamaung King of Arakan 1612-1622
Hussein/Hussai
n Shah
1612,
1619 M-332-37
Unnamed
Royal Uncle
Governor of
Chittagong 1612 N/A N/A N/A
Page 5 of 18
365
Hauret, P. (2022). The Chittagonian Coinage of Arakan’s Royal Sons. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(9). 361-378.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.99.13109
But Jalal Khan was not the only governor appointed or confirmed in office once some Arakanese
hegemony was established. Per Mitchiner, Min Palaung actually appointed (or confirmed) two
governors in 1575 to administer the Chittagong region: Jalal Khan in the north of Chittagong
and Adam Shah in the south at Ramu and Chakaria, the latter being a district between Ramu
and Chittagong [8]. Jalal Khan’s coins were similar to the aforementioned trade coinage struck
earlier in Chittagong, as were coins dated 1580 struck by his successor, Wamar, appointed in
1580 (M-304-05) [8]. Mitchiner believes Adam Shah is identical to Adam Humayun, who struck
undated coins in the south at Ramu (M-295-99) [8]. It is interesting to note that all the coins of
Jalal Khan and Adam Shah are undated, and the conclusion that their terms in office began in
1575 finds numismatic support only from the coins of their Arakanese master, Min Palaung,
who accepted their submission.
Yet Min Palaung was apparently not done with the nomination of governors for the Chittagong
region, for in 1581, after appointing several royal family members with unsatisfactory results,
he appointed his middle son Min Saw Hla, also known as Minnala, as governor with the title
anauk hpuran or “king of the west,” supported by a large army of men, cavalry and elephants
[1, 7, 9]. Leider alleges the title anauk hpuran expressed an Arakanese expansionist tendency
that went well beyond Chittagong, since from Arakan’s geographic perspective Chittagong was
to the north, but greater Bengal, to the west of Chittagong, represented additional lands to
which Arakan claimed an historic right[6]. We can only speculate on the administrative reasons
for Min Palaung’s appointment of his son, when from numismatic evidence there were already
two governors, Wamar in the north and Adam Shah in the south. Nor do we know the political
relationships between the three, but since Min Saw Hla was the son of the king, it is reasonable
to assume he was senior to the other two. But that problem disappears if we accept Mitchiner’s
assertion that Min Saw Hla was appointed only later in 1586, an assertion supported by Goron
and Goenka, but one we will reject for reasons to be examined below [8, 11].
This appears to be the first appointment of a king’s son to this prestigious post, and an
examination of his coinage starts us on a voyage into the at times confusing world of the coins
of Arakan’s royal sons. It is reported in Chowdhury as coin no. 2 and features the kalima in
Persian and the following Bengali inscription: Sri Sri Anaka pha ra. The Arakanese inscription
is Min tara kyi tha daw anauk hpuran shin 953, which he translates as “Son of the Great King of
the Law, Lord of the West, Burmese Era (BE) 953,” or CE 1591 [10]. However, Mitchiner
provides a slightly different transliteration of both the Bengali and the Arakanese: Bengali, Sri
Sri Min Thauh’ra; Arakanese, Min taya gyi tha daw anauk bawa shin 953, which is translated as
“Great Prince of Righteousness, Royal Son, Western Lord of Life 953”, a translation he attributes
to Michael Robinson and N. G. Rhodes, while acknowledging that Chowdhury proposes a
slightly different one (M-311-13) [8]. A careful examination of photos of all four coins indicates
that Chowdhury’s translation is preferred, as all four clearly feature anauk hpuran or anauk
hpuran shin, or “Lord/King of the West.” So where did Robinson-Rhodes get “Western Lord of
Life”? Mitchiner appears to think this is only a matter of wording, but the sale of two coins
attributed to Min Saw Hla in Stephen Album Rare Coin (SARC) auctions (Auction 10, April 2011,
Lot 1277 and Auction 11, September 2011, Lot 1128 found at
http://db.stevealbum.com/php/auctions.php?site=0&lang=1&cust=0) resolves this matter
nicely. Both clearly feature the following Arakanese inscription: anauk bawa shin, “lord of the
Western lives or existences,” while both M-311-13 and Chowdhury coin no. 2 feature anauk
hpuran or anauk hpuran shin. See Figures 2 and 3 for photos of Lot 1128 and Figures 4 and 5
Page 6 of 18
366
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 9, Issue 9, September-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
for the Arakanese inscription on the Mitchiner and SARC coins. This means that Robinson- Rhodes’ translation (“Western Lord of Life”) represents a correct translation of a coin or coins
similar to Lots 1277 and 1128, which Mitchiner assumed were the same as M-311-13. How this
mix-up occurred we cannot say, but it evidently took place. In fairness to Robinson-Rhodes,
therefore, we now know their translation pertains to another coin or coins they must have
examined, which as a result of SARC’s Auctions 10 and 11 have now been identified.
Figure 2. Obverse of Lot 1128, SARC Auction 11
Figure 3. Reverse of Lot 1128
(All photos in this article courtesy of SARC)
Min Saw Hla, Mitchiner 311-13
မင်တရား
(ကိသာ
ေတာ အေနာက်
ဖ0ရဥ်or ဖ0ရန်*
၉၅၃
Tha daw: သာ ေတာ
Modern Burmese သား ေတာ်
* Note: hpuran seen with two spellings.
Min Saw Hla, SARC Lots 1277 and 1128
မင်တရား
(ကိသာ
ေတာ အေနာက်
ဘဝ 78င်
၉၅၁ (or ၃)
Tha daw: သာ ေတာ
Modern Burmese သား ေတာ်
Figure 4. Arakanese Inscription on Mitchiner Coins 311-13
Figure 5. Arakanese Inscription on SARC Coins 1277 and 1128
Of further interest is that both Chowdhury and Robinson-Rhodes translate tha daw as “royal
son”, despite the fact that the tones represented in the Arakanese inscription are opposite those
of modern Arakanese and Burmese [12, 13]. The coin’s inscription has tha as level tone and daw
as falling tone, while in modern Arakanese and Burmese the opposite is true. In some
Page 8 of 18
368
Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 9, Issue 9, September-2022
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
According to Mitchiner, Min Palaung responded to the recent defections of the Chittagonian
governors by no longer appointing a separate governor for the Ramu area. The other governor
Wamar, who had replaced Jalal Khan, was removed from office and replaced with Min Palaung’s
second son Min Saw Hla in 1586. From this point onwards, Arakanese kings made it a habit to
appoint only family members as governors, a conclusion with which Leider agrees [6].
Mitchiner describes these policy changes as “the reorganization of 1586,” which sounds more
like the consequences a modern-day corporate merger and not a major military campaign that
raged up and down the Chittagongian region until April 1588 [8]. Moreover, Mitchiner’s
timeline has a number of problems. It conflicts with Leider’s contention, based on the
Arakanese chronicles, that Min Saw Hla was appointed in 1581, and dates the so-called
reorganization to 1586, when Arakan was struggling to control the town or had even lost it,
instead of 1588 when Arakan had restored control. For these reasons, Leider’s dating of the
appointment of Min Saw Hla to 1581 seems more credible.
Even more fighting over Chittagong, however, was to take place in 1589 before truly firm
Arakanese control was realized. The best evidence of this is the diary of an Austrian traveler
named Georg Christoph Fernberger, who visited Chittagong in October 1589 and upon the day
of his arrival witnessed a major battle between an unnamed port governor and Nandia Sundar,
the name Fernberger gives to Min Saw Hla, the governor of the broader region. The port
governor had seized the fort and was defending it with 800 guns, 5,000 men and fifty elephants.
Against him was arrayed an Arakanese force that consisted of 40,000 men, 10,000 of which had
guns, 370 war elephants, and 4,000 cannons of various sizes. The town’s governor had initially
received the support of the local Portuguese, but upon the arrival of the main Arakanese force
led by Min Saw Hla, transported in 4,000 boats, the Portuguese were offered an attractive
package that included a nearby island and considerable war material. The port governor’s
counter-offer to the Portuguese was rejected, and within days he surrendered to the Arakanese
who magnanimously allowed him to live and maintain control of the port. Local observers
considered it a wise decision, as the port governor now knew he could not trust the Portuguese
and his life depended on pleasing the Arakanese. Fernberger’s account is quite detailed and
clearly indicates that Arakanese control of Chittagong was still challenged as late as 1589.
Stephan Van Galen believes this struggle was the final battle in the contest for Chittagong in the
late sixteenth century, and Fernberger’s account provides valuable data that corrects other
accounts that describe a similar clash occurring in either 1588 or 1590 [2, 6, 7, 14].
It is for these reasons that Min Saw Hla’s coinage is dated 1591, ten years after his appointment
when his control over Chittagong could no longer be challenged. But his coinage comes at the
end of a lengthy period of struggle for Chittagong during which Arakanese jurisdiction was
nonetheless sufficient to issue several coins in the name of King Min Palaung. In the coming
section, what will challenge our understanding will not be the extent of Arakan’s political or
administrative control of Chittagong, but rather the identities of its governors and the length of
their terms in office.
ARAKAN’S GOVERNORS OF CHITTAGONG, 1590 TO 1612
In 1593 Min Palaung died and Min Raza Kyi, the crown prince also known by an Islamic name
Selim Shah (r. 1593-1612), became the king of Arakan [1]. In Mitchiner, we find four trilingual
coins of Min Raza Kyi/Selim Shah all minted in Chittagong and dated 1593, his accession date,
with the following inscriptions: Arakanese, Naradipati Sawleim Shah 955; Bengali, Sri Sri Chalim
Page 9 of 18
369
Hauret, P. (2022). The Chittagonian Coinage of Arakan’s Royal Sons. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(9). 361-378.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.99.13109
(or Chalam) Shah; and Persian, l-malik l-‘adil Salim Shah Sultan, or Sa(hib) Al-ra(hman) Salim
Shah Sultan, or just Sultan Salim Shah. Again, he provides a translation of the Arakanese by
Robinson-Rhodes, “Ruler of Men, Selim Shah, Year 955” indicating that Naradipati is not a
proper name, but a title (M-314-17) [8]. In analyzing these coins, Mitchiner says this about one
specimen, M-317: “The Bengali resembles that on a coin attributed by Chowdhury (no. 7) to a
governor who took the Persian name Suleman Shah (BE 973) [CE 1611], but Persian and
Arakanese legends are different. The present coin could be a governor’s issue, or the legends
could be corrupted from those of Selim Shah.” [8] (p. 133) We get the impression that he
questions whether M-317 is even a coin of Min Raza Kyi, suspecting instead that it might be a
poorly made governor’s coin, and as for Chowdhury’s coin no. 7, a supposed coin of a governor
named Suleman Shah, we find no further mention of it or Suleman Shah in Mitchiner.
Unfortunately, the photos of Chowdhury’s coin no. 7 are so poor it defies reading [10], and we
are left with unanswered questions. The sale of a coin in SARC Auction 11 in September 2011,
which we will address below, will resolve this matter.
We must assume that Min Saw Hla, the younger brother of the new king, still held his post as
governor upon the accession of his brother in 1593, for no additional governor coins are issued
until 1597, when we encounter the coins of a new governor named Islam Shah. However, it is
possible Min Saw Hla could have been removed by his older brother as early as 1595, since at
that time various hill tribes threatened Chittagong and Min Saw Hla appeared unable to deal
with them [1]. Mitchiner presents three specimens of Islam Shah’s coins (M-318-20), all dated
BE 959, CE 1597, and alleges he was also known as Min Man Gyi and initially governed for two
years from 1595 to 1597, replacing Min Saw Hla. But he provides no evidence or reasoning to
support the belief he took office two years prior to the dating of his coins: “The present
governor of Chittagong, who took the name Islam Shah, replaced Min Sawhla in 1595 (957) and
was himself replaced by Halal Shah in 1597 (959). Islam Shah, son of Selim Shah (coin legend)
was probably Min Man Gyi (Alamanja), second son of Min Razagyi (Selim Shah). He was born in
1579 and was, at a later time, recorded as being appointed Governor of Chittagong in 1602 (he
subsequently revolted and was defeated by his elder brother, Min Khamaung). He may earlier
have been granted the governorship of Chittagong during 1595-97.” [8] (p. 134).
It appears Mitchiner is not sure of his own narrative, as the last sentence questions what he just
set forth. The Arakanese inscription of these coins is as follows: 959 khu Naradibbati tha daw
anauk bawa shin, which Robinson-Rhodes translates as “Year 959, Ruler of Men, Royal Son,
Western Lord of Life.” This translation is correct, but we should point out that Mitchiner’s
transliteration misrepresents the last Arakanese word shin as shah. The shin is quite clear in M- 318 and in SARC Auction 11, Lot 1130; see Figures 6 and 8 below. But of greater importance is
the spelling of tha daw, “royal son”, on these coins, which duplicates, as best as we can tell, that
of the coins of governor Min Saw Hla, with tha in level tone and daw in falling tone, the opposite
of modern Burmese and Arakanese.
Page 11 of 18
371
Hauret, P. (2022). The Chittagonian Coinage of Arakan’s Royal Sons. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(9). 361-378.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.99.13109
Chowdhury believed replaced governor Sinabadi in 1608 (a governor we will discuss below)
[10]. Per Leider, the Arakanese chronicles record that Min Ňui/Min Nyo revolted against Min
Raza Kyi circa 1609-10 and had to flee to Sandwip Island, near Chittagong. Leider contends the
name Min Man Kyi has no evidentiary foundation and notes that Chowdhury does not use it
because there was no coinage attributable to him. Choosing to rely upon the chronicles and not
Collis, whom he has criticized elsewhere for popular and uncritical histories [16], Leider uses
only Min Ňui to describe the governor who replaced Sinabadi in 1608 and subsequently
revolted [1]. San Tha Aung does cite Collis as a source [15], but these explanations fail to
address Mitchiner’s equation of Islam Shah with Min Man Kyi during an earlier term in office,
starting in either 1595 or 1597. In fact, of all the sources, Mitchiner is the only one to associate
Min Man Kyi with Islam Shah. In his scheme, therefore, Min Man Kyi/Min Ňui/Min Nyo’s term
in the early seventeenth century was his second appointment, the dating of which we will
examine below [8]. Refer to Table 1.
Further complicating matters, Chowdhury alleges Islam Shah did not hold the office for very
long, because the following year another governor’s coin dated BE 960/CE 1598 was issued,
which Chowdhury does not describe or list but tentatively attributes to the aforementioned Min
Nyo, who governed only briefly after having a disagreement with his father. Unfortunately for
Chowdhury’s contention, we have a coin dated 1597, discussed below, belonging to governor
Halal Shah who replaced Islam Shah in 1597, which would mean Min Nyo’s term in 1598 would
have interrupted Halal Shah’s term. Chowdhury says the following about Min Nyo: “But this
new governor [Islam Shah, coin no. 4] did not rule for long. The very next year, a coin with the
date 960 B.E. was issued by another governor which indicated a very brief rule by the ‘son of
Naradhipati’- Islam Shah. It is rather difficult to pinpoint who this prince was because of the
conflicting reports in different historical accounts. However, it is stated that during the early
reign of Naradhipati [Min Raza Kyi], the governor who was his son Meng [Min] Nyo, was
expelled after a brief reign due to his disagreements with the king, and I attribute this coin to
him.”[10] (p. 149-50). Chowdhury’s source for this is a compilation of the Arakanese chronicles
by Candamala Lankara known as the Rakhine Razawinthit Kyan, or New History of Arakan,
published as two volumes in Mandalay in 1931-32 and frequently cited in Leider [1]. Since
Chowdhury has no picture or description of this coin and no specimens have appeared over the
years in either Mitchiner [8] or the SARC Auctions, we must dismiss this brief term of Min Nyo
in 1598, although we will encounter him again.
The coins of Halal Shah, which Mitchiner believes was the governor of Chittagong from 1597-
99, following directly the term of Islam Shah/Min Man Gyi (1595-97), provide a partial
confirmation of the meaning and spelling of tha daw. Mitchiner lists seven specimens of his
coins (M-321-27), and two sales in SARC Auction 11, Lots 1131 and 1132 (see Figures 9 and
10) provide us with electronic copies of M-321 (in fact, it is the identical coin) and M-324.
Besides identifying another governor and his term, the relevance of these coins is found in the
Arakanese inscription where Halal Shah is identified, per the Robinson-Rhodes translation, as
uri daw, “royal uncle”. Although the spelling of daw is slightly different in M-321-22 (daw with
a “d” as opposed to M-323-24’s daw with a “t”, equivalent to the modern spelling in Burmese),
in all cases we find daw with a falling tone, not the level tone of modern Burmese. This would
seemingly confirm the translation of daw in the tha daw/royal son coins as “royal”. See Figure
11. The Persian inscription is Sultan Halal Shah, the Bengali is Sri Sri Hinan Saha, and the