Nepalese silver mohar

The Nepalese silver mohar is a historic struck silver coin of Nepal. Initially designated as the Mhendramalli, the type was introduced during the Malla dynasty as part of a major currency reform that instituted the mohar standard. Struck to a standardised reduced weight standard of 5.4 grams in silver, the mohar replaced earlier coinage standards to become the primary silver denomination of the region.

The silver mohar system operated extensively from after 1640. Under this structure, a single mohar was divided into two suka, with further fractional subdivisions descending through the aana, adha-aana, paisa, dam, and jawa. In larger transactions, two mohars formed a rupee or double mohar, and four mohars constituted a double rupee. Between 1857 and 1930, the Nepalese rupee—comprising two mohars—maintained a fixed exchange rate of 1.28 per Indian rupee. The silver mohar remained in official circulation until 1932, when the Nepalese rupee formally superseded the silver-based currency at the conversion rate of two mohars to one rupee.

Visually, the coin is distinguished by its struck silver composition and intricate surface ornamentation. The fields display dense legends in Devanagari script arranged alongside distinctive geometric devices. Regnal and calendar dates appearing on the coinage are recorded according to either the Saka era or the Vikram era.