An exceptional 1771 Mohur East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: post-1761 issues, Third gold coinage, gold Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1185h, yr 12 [April-July 1771], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 12 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 12th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 12.37g/12h (Prid. 22 [Sale, lot 570]; Stevens 2.15; KM. 94.1; F 1528). Extremely fine and virtually as struck with mint bloom, an exceptional coin of the type and the first of the frozen year 12 issues [certified and graded NGC MS 63] £2,000-£2,600 --- Provenance: Spink Australia Auction (Sydney), 20 November 1980, lot 26 Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 130, recté provenance as above. Owner’s ticket and envelope, plus a further Spink envelope
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East India Company, Madras Presidency, Early coinages: Mughal style, silver Rupee, in the name of Shah Alam I Bahadur (1119-24h/1707-12), Chinapatan, 1122h, yr 4 [1710/11], shah alam badshah ghazi sanah 1122 [Shah Alam, victorious Emperor, 1122], rev. zarb chinapatan sanah 4 julus [Struck at Chinapatan in the 4th year of his reign], 10.95g/8h (Prid. 122 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.18, confirmed from this coin; KM. A302). Test mark on reverse, good fine, dark tone, very rare £70-£90 --- Provenance: Bt R.C. Senior (Glastonbury, UK) December 1983. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: First milled issue, gold Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1790-3], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], two pellets in top line and no secret privy marks in lower line, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge grained right, 28mm, 12.38g/12h (Prid. 61 [Sale, lot 576]; Stevens 4.1, and 5.54, this coin illustrated [as Dacca]; KM. 102; F 1536). Extremely fine and on an unusually large flan, rare [certified and graded NGC MS 63] £1,000-£1,200 --- Provenance: A Parcel of East India Company Issues for Bengal, Glendining Auction (London), 3-4 October 1988, lot 504, recté Prid. 61 Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 143, recté Prid. 61. Owner’s ticket and envelope. Ascribed to Dacca by previous cataloguers of this coin interpreting the central pellet in the extreme left side group as being indicative of that mint’s secret privy mark, when it is a standard feature. A major report about the state of the coinage in Bengal, conducted in 1789, concluded that the way forward would be to produce coins using machinery. Accordingly plant was acquired and, after a few trial strikes were produced in copper, the first gold coins were minted in August 1790. Silver coins proved more difficult as the blanks continued to be hand-prepared, so the first milled rupees did not appear until 1792 and the first milled copper coins were made in 1795
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Second milled issue, gold Quarter-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1793-1818], naming Murshidabad, sikka shah alam badshah ghazi [coin of Shah ‘Alam the victorious emperor], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], centre group of five pellets, edge grained right, 3.08g/12h (Prid. 64 [Sale, lot 579]; Stevens 4.7; KM. 91; F 1539). Virtually as struck with considerable mint bloom, most attractive [certified and graded NGC MS 61] £300-£400 --- Provenance: Bt in London August 1984. Owner’s envelope
A superb and excessively rare milled Mohur of the Patna mint East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Patna Mint: Second milled issue, gold Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1793-1818], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], triangle of pellets in top line, extreme right group of pellets with extra pellet at centre, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], normal borders, edge grained right, 12.38g/12h (Prid. 68 [secret marks attributed to Dacca: not in Sale]; Stevens 5.29, this coin cited; cf. KM. 103.2; F 1537). Brilliant and virtually as struck with full mint bloom, a stunning coin and excessively rare, very few specimens known [certified and graded NGC MS 63] £5,000-£7,000 --- Provenance: A Parcel of East India Company Issues for Bengal, Glendining Auction (London), 3-4 October 1988, lot 500 Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 135. Owner’s ticket and envelope. The mint at Patna started to produce the new milled coins in 1794, the last of the four Bengal mints to operate in this way; the reasons for attributing coins to it bearing an extra pellet in the extreme right group, rather than to Dacca, are fully explained by Stevens (2012, pp.217-20)
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Murshidabad Mint: Second milled issue, gold Quarter-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1793-1818], sikka shah alam badshah ghazi [coin of Shah ‘Alam the victorious emperor], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], centre group of four pellets, edge grained right, 3.08g/12h (Prid. 73 [Sale, lot 581]; Stevens 5.4; KM. 100; F 1539). Good very fine, very rare [certified and graded NGC AU 58] £500-£700 --- Provenance: ‘Skanda’ (L.B. Brilliant) Collection, Spink/Taisei Auction 9 (Singapore), 20 February 1991, lot 634 Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 139. Owner’s ticket and envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Third milled issue, gold Quarter-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1793-1818], naming Murshidabad, sikka shah alam badshah ghazi [coin of Shah ‘Alam the victorious emperor], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], centre group of five pellets, edge centre-grained, 3.32g/12h (Prid. 81 [Sale, lot 584]; Stevens 6.5; KM. 110; F 1542). Characteristic adjustment marks on obverse, file mark on obverse edge at 6 o’clock, otherwise extremely fine and practically as struck, very rare £400-£500 --- Provenance: Bt in London May 2000. Owner’s ticket and envelope. At one time this was an extremely rare coin known only from only three or four specimens, but several have appeared on the market in recent years. Sold with a note from the owner detailing the problems with ‘rasping’ (filing) in the mint’s Adjusting Department not being removed by the stamping machine when coins were struck (cf. Stevens 2012, p.276), a particular problem with this issue
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Third milled issue, gold Quarter-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1793-1818], naming Murshidabad, sikka shah alam badshah ghazi [coin of Shah ‘Alam the victorious emperor], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], centre group of five pellets, edge centre-grained, 3.30g/12h (Prid. 81 [Sale, lot 584]; Stevens 6.5; KM. 110; F 1542). Traces of mounting on edge, characteristic adjustment marks on reverse, otherwise very fine and toned, very rare [certified and graded NGC AU Details: Obv. Rim Filed] £200-£260 --- Provenance: A.N. Brushfield Collection, Part V, Glendining Auction (London), 2-3 November 1949, lot 18 H.M. Lingford (Bishop Auckland, UK) Collection, ticket F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 584, ticket Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 146. Owner’s ticket and envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Introduction of Steam, gold Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1831-5], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], no pellet privy mark, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], crescent mint-mark at top left, edge grained left, 12.38g/12h (Prid. 84 var. [not in Sale]; Stevens 9.4, this coin cited; KM. 114; F 1543a). Good extremely fine with mint bloom, attractive and very rare [certified and graded NGC MS 64] £1,500-£1,800 --- Provenance: Baldwin/Monetarium/Gillio/Ma Auction 30 (Singapore), 23 March 2000, lot 559. Owner’s ticket and envelope
A stunning Pattern Mohur of 1830, ex Murdoch/Brand East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Introduction of Steam, gold Pattern Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1830], unsigned, naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], pellet privy mark, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], crescent mint-mark at top left, heavily grained borders on both sides, edge straight-grained, 13.27g/12h (Prid. 85 [Sale, lot 587]; Stevens 9.1; KM. 114; F 1543b). A stunning coin, brilliant FDC, very rare [certified and graded NGC PF 65 Cameo] £8,000-£10,000 --- Provenance: J.G. Murdoch Collection, Sotheby Auction (London), 21-29 July 1903, lot 67 V.M. Brand (Chicago, IL) Collection Spink Auction 17 (London), 16 September 1981, lot 100, label. Owner’s ticket and two envelopes
The unique Calcutta Trial Rupee of 1761 with mubarak title East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: post-1761 issues, silver Trial or Pattern Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1174h, yr 2 [July-August 1761], unsigned, naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], rev. zarb mubarak murshidabad sanah 2 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 2nd year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge plain, 27mm, 11.61g/6h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.56, this coin illustrated; Stevens website image 1360, this coin; KM. –). Good very fine and well-struck on a full flan, toned, a very important coin of the highest rarity and believed the only known specimen £4,000-£5,000 --- Provenance: P.J.E. Stevens Collection, Part III, Stephen Album Auction 25 (Santa Rosa, CA), 19-21 May 2016, lot 1240, label. Owner’s ticket and envelope. Literature: Illustrated in Paul Stevens, The Coins of the Bengal Presidency, p.46 Illustrated in Paul Stevens, The Coins of the English East India Company, Presidency Series: A Catalogue and Pricelist, p.17. It is thought that, following the decision by the Nawab in the summer of 1761 to strike coins at Murshidabad in the name of Shah ‘Alam II with the regnal year 2, the Calcutta Council agreed to strike rupees at their own mint but bearing the mubarak [auspicious] moniker. Within a short space of time it appears that a decision was taken to copy the coins of Murshidabad as closely as possible and, in subsequent years down to 1777, a complex series of pellet privy marks, still yet to be fully understood, is likely to have determined which coins derived from which mints
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1761 issues, silver Half-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 7 [1765-6], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], sun at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 7 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 7th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 5.83g/2h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.83; KM. 83.1 [date not listed]). Extremely fine and virtually as struck, attractively toned, an exceptional coin and one of the finest known for the type, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC MS 64] £600-£800 --- Provenance: Stephen Album Auction 27 (Santa Rosa, CA), 19-22 January 2017, lot 2367, label. Owner’s ticket and envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1761 issues, silver Eighth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 117[–]h, yr 4 [1762-3], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], sun at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 4 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 4th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 1.43g/9h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.95, this coin cited; KM. 81.1 [date not listed]). Good very fine and toned, very rare £200-£260 --- Provenance: ‘Stiller’ Collection, Baldwin Auction 47 (London), 25 September 2006, lot 805, envelope. Owner’s ticket and envelope
Probably the finest early silver coin struck at Patna in private hands – an exceptional Nazarana Rupee East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Patna (Azimabad) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Nazarana Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), early style, 1182h, yr 10 [September 1767-May 1768], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], rev. zarb azimabad sanah 10 julus maimanat manus [struck at Azimabad in the 10th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], trisul at left, 11.60g/8h (cf. Prid. 108 [type not in Sale]; Stevens –; KM. –). A stunning and exquisite coin on a broad flan, extremely fine and dark-toned, exceptionally rare, perhaps no other Nazaranas of this date known [certified and graded NGC MS 63] £4,000-£5,000 --- Provenance: K. Wiggins Collection, Baldwin Auction 25 (London), 8 May 2001, lot 595, ticket, describing the coin as ‘possibly proof’. Owner’s ticket and envelope. Other Nazarana rupees are known from Patna dated 1174h year 2 (Todywalla Auction 44, lot 497, ex ‘Diana’ lot 1071) and, to a different style, dated 1183h year 11 (Ashmolean Museum: Stevens 5.27a). In describing this coin the owner writes: ‘Patna produced some outstanding clean coinage when not forced to emulate Calcutta and Murshidabad. The calligraphy and its uncluttered nature...both point to a beautiful piece of art’
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1771 issues, silver Nazarana Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1183h, yr 11 [August 1769-April 1770], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 11 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 11th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], privy mark arrangement 5/3, 11.62g/7h (cf. Prid. 109, same dies as the plate coin [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.113 [privy marks 5/3]; Stevens website image 1565c, same dies; KM. PnA2). Two trifling rim nicks, otherwise good very fine and dark-toned with underlying sheen and excellent calligraphy, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC AU 50] £2,000-£3,000 --- Provenance: Taisei/Baldwin/Gillio Auction 26 (Singapore), 12 February 1998, lot 778. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1771 issues, silver Half-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1185h, yr 11 [1771-2 inferred], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 11 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 11th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], privy mark arrangement 4/3, 5.76g/9h (cf. Prid. 119 [Sale, lot 595]; cf. Stevens 2.139; KM. 83.2). Numerous shroff marks on the edge, good fine and toned, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC VF Details: Shroff Marked Edge] £300-£400 --- Provenance: F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 595, date given as 1184, ticket Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 152, date given as 1184. Owner’s ticket. What remains of the last digit of the hegira date suggests a figure 5, rather than a 4; perhaps a die-sinker’s error as a year 11 coin would normally be dated 1183 or 1184h
An exceptional group of silver coins from Dacca (Jahangirnagar) East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Dacca (Jahangirnagar) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1182h, yr 10 [August 1768-May 1769], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], rev. zarb jahangirnagar sanah 10 sicca mubarak julus maimanat manus [the auspicious coin struck at Jahangirnagar in the 10th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], large sun to left of date, 11.55g/11h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 5.41, this coin cited; Stevens website 1501, this coin illustrated; KM. –). Good fine and well-struck with full dates, extremely rare, very few early Rupees of this mint known £1,000-£1,500 --- Provenance: Baldwin Auction 31 (London), 14-15 October 2002, lot 710 Baldwin Auction 33 (London), 6-7 May 2003, lot 1007. Owner’s ticket, label and envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Dacca (Jahangirnagar) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1181h, yr 8 [May-September 1767], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], rev. zarb jahangirnagar sanah 8 sicca mubarak julus maimanat manus [the auspicious coin struck at Jahangirnagar in the 8th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], large sun to left of date, 2.88g/5h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 5.43, this coin cited; Stevens website 1503c, this coin illustrated; KM. –). Reverse edge nick at 12 o’clock, otherwise very fine with both dates visible, exceptionally rare, perhaps only two or three known £600-£800 --- Provenance: Baldwin/Ma/Gillio/Monetarium Auction 36 (Singapore), 6 March 2003, lot 467 (part). Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Dacca (Jahangirnagar) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 10 [1768-9], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], rev. zarb jahangirnagar sanah 10 sicca mubarak julus maimanat manus [the auspicious coin struck at Jahangirnagar in the 10th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], large sun to left of date, 2.80g/3h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 5.44, this coin cited; KM. –). Fine, exceptionally rare, perhaps only two or three known £200-£260 --- Provenance: Baldwin/Ma/Gillio/Monetarium Auction 36 (Singapore), 6 March 2003, lot 467 (part). Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Dacca (Jahangirnagar) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Eighth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 11[––]h, yr 7 [1765-6], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], rev. zarb jahangirnagar sanah 7 sicca mubarak julus maimanat manus [the auspicious coin struck at Jahangirnagar in the 7th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], large sun to left of date, 1.44g/5h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens –; Stevens website 1505e; KM. –). Very fine and toned, exceptionally rare, perhaps only one other known £400-£500 --- Provenance: Bt H. Kaslove (Ottawa, ONT) August 1982. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Dacca (Jahangirnagar) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Eighth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 8 [1766-7], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], rev. zarb jahangirnagar sanah 8 sicca mubarak julus maimanat manus [the auspicious coin struck at Jahangirnagar in the 8th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], large sun to left of date, 1.40g/12h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 5.46, this coin cited; KM. –). Fine, exceptionally rare, perhaps only two or three known £200-£260 --- Provenance: Baldwin/Ma/Gillio/Monetarium Auction 36 (Singapore), 6 March 2003, lot 467 (part). Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Dacca (Jahangirnagar) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Sixteenth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 11[––]h, yr 7 [1765-6], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], rev. zarb jahangirnagar sanah 7 sicca mubarak julus maimanat manus [the auspicious coin struck at Jahangirnagar in the 7th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], large sun to left of date, 0.72g/10h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 5.48, this coin cited; KM. –). Very fine and toned, exceptionally rare, perhaps only two or three known [certified and graded NGC XF 45] £300-£400 --- Provenance: Baldwin/Ma/Gillio/Monetarium Auction 36 (Singapore), 6 March 2003, lot 467 (part) Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Dacca (Jahangirnagar) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Sixteenth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 8 [1766-7], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], rev. zarb jahangirnagar sanah 8 sicca mubarak julus maimanat manus [the auspicious coin struck at Jahangirnagar in the 8th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], large sun to left of date, 0.72g/6h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 5.49; KM. –). Very fine and toned, exceptionally rare, perhaps only two or three known [certified and graded NGC AU 50] £300-£400 --- Provenance: Baldwin/Ma/Gillio/Monetarium Auction 36 (Singapore), 6 March 2003, lot 467 (part). Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: 19 Sun Sicca coinage, silver Rupees (3), in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1191h, yr 19 [May 1777-January 1778], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 11.55g/6h (Prid. 135b [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.167; KM. 84.2); 1192h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1778-9], similar, 11.61g/2h (Prid. 136 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.168; Stevens website 1363, first coin illustrated; KM. 84.2); 1193h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1779-80], similar, 11.57g/5h (Prid. 137 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.169; KM. 84.2) [3]. First fine, second good fine, last very fine, all rare £100-£150 --- Provenance: First D. Fore Collection, Part III, Baldwin Auction 84 (London), 25-6 September 2013, lot 1818 (part) Second D. Fore Collection, Part III, Baldwin Auction 84 (London), 25-6 September 2013, lot 1818 (part). Owner’s tickets and envelopes
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: 19 Sun Sicca coinage, silver Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1199h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1784-5], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 2.88g/10h (Prid. 150 [Sale, lots 601, 605-6]; Stevens 2.188 for type; KM. 82.3). About very fine, extremely rare with full date £300-£400 --- Provenance: Format (Birmingham, UK) FPL 45, March 1992 (2152). Owner’s ticket and envelope. Only one other quarter-rupee of this coinage noted with a full hejira date, in this case 1192h (Stevens website, image 1381, fourth coin)
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: 19 Sun Sicca coinage, silver Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1[––]h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1777-93], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 2.92g/6h (Prid. 150 [Sale, lots 601, 605-6]; Stevens 2.188 for type; KM. 82.3). On a large flan, light scratches on reverse, otherwise good very fine, rare; the characteristics suggest a partially machine-struck coin £150-£200 --- Provenance: Baldwin/Ma/Gillio/Monetarium Auction 36 (Singapore), 6 March 2003, lot 465. Owner’s ticket and envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: 19 Sun Sicca coinage, silver Eighth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1[––]h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1777-93], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 1.45g/12h (Prid. 151, this coin illustrated [Sale, lots 605-6]; cf. Stevens 2.188-2.192; KM. 81.3). Good very fine and toned, rare [certified and graded NGC AU 55] £100-£120 --- Provenance: F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 605 (part), ticket Bt Spink (London) November 1985, ticket. Owner’s ticket and envelope. Literature: Illustrated in Fred Pridmore, The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations...Part 4, India, Volume I, p.240
East India Company, Madras Presidency, Early coinages: Mughal style, silver Rupee, in the name of Farrukh-Siyar (1124-31h/1713-19), Chinapatan, [112]9h, yr 6 [1717/18], sikka zad az fazl hagg bar sim wa zar badshah bahar wa bar farrukh-siyar [Struck money of gold and silver by the grace of God Emperor of sea and land Farrukh-Siyar], rev. zarb chinapatan sanat 6 julus maimanat manus [Struck at Chinapatan in the 6th year of tranquil prosperity], 11.13g/10h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.25, this coin cited; KM. E302). Punchmarks on obverse and test mark on reverse, one edge weak, otherwise fine to very fine, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC XF Details: Shroff Marked Edge] £150-£200 --- Owner’s ticket
The finest known Rupee from Calcutta’s first milled coinage East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: First milled issue, silver Proof or Specimen Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1792], type 1, naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], two pellets in top line and no secret privy marks in lower line, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge grained right, 11.65g/12h (cf. Prid. 153 [not in Sale]; Stevens 4.10, this coin; cf. KM. 106). A magnificent specimen of this iconic coinage, carefully struck and fresh from the dies, mint state with reflective fields, exceptionally rare [certified and graded NGC MS 63] £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: F. Pridmore (Taunton, UK) Collection Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 161 [from Spink (London) June 1979]. Two owner’s tickets and envelope
A superb Specimen Rupee from Patna’s first milled coinage East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Patna (Azimabad) Mint: First milled issue, silver Proof or Specimen Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1793-4], type 2, naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], central dot in right side group of pellets, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge grained right, 11.66g/12h (cf. Prid. 155 [secret mark attributed to Dacca: Sale, lot 609]; Stevens 5.33; cf. KM. 99.4). A superb coin, virtually as struck and retaining considerable mint brilliance, toned, exceptionally rare [certified and graded NGC MS 64] £2,000-£3,000 --- Provenance: Taisei/Baldwin/Gillio Auction 24 (Singapore), 27 February 1997, lot 660, label. Owner’s ticket and envelope. With the decision in 1790 to introduce machinery into the presidency’s mints, Robert Blake was appointed assay master at Patna and coining commenced in January 1793
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Second milled issue, silver Half-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), no hegira date, frozen regnal yr 19 [1793-1818], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], with pellet in heh of shah but no other private marks, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge grained right, 5.82g/12h (Prid. 158 var. [Sale, lot 612]; Stevens 4.20 var.; KM. 97.1). Good very fine and toned, presumably very rare [certified and graded NGC AU 58] £140-£180 --- Provenance: F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 612 [from Baldwin (London) March 1974], ticket. Owner’s ticket. The possible significance of the extra pellet has not yet been determined; a similar coin but with an extra pellet above the crescent (Stevens website image 1422, third coin) has also been published
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Second milled issue, silver Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen date 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1793-1818], naming Murshidabad, sikka shah alam badshah [coin of Shah ‘Alam emperor], small date numerals, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], centre group of five pellets, edge grained right, 2.90g/12h (Prid. 159 [Sale, lot 610]; Stevens 4.22; KM. 96.1). Brilliant mint state, full mint bloom £60-£80 --- Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Second milled issue, silver Proof Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen date 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1793-1818], naming Murshidabad, sikka shah alam badshah [coin of Shah ‘Alam emperor], small date numerals, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], centre group of five pellets, edge grained right, 2.91g/12h (Prid. 162 [Sale, lot 613]; Stevens 4.24; KM. 96.1). Brilliant and virtually as struck, toned, extremely rare £600-£800 --- Provenance: Bt Baldwin (London) May 1985, ticket. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Patna (Azimabad) Mint: Second milled issue, silver Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen date 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1794-6], naming Murshidabad, sikka shah alam badshah [coin of Shah ‘Alam emperor], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], central dot in left side triangle of pellets, edge grained right, 2.89g/12h (Prid. 165 [secret mark attributed to Dacca: Sale, lot 614]; Stevens 5.36; KM. 96.4). Good very fine and attractively toned, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC MS 63] £300-£400 --- Provenance: K. Wiggins Collection, Baldwin Auction 25 (London), 8 May 2001, lot 638 (part), ticket. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Patna (Azimabad) Mint: Second milled issue, silver Eighth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen regnal yr 19 [1794-6], naming Murshidabad, sikka shah alam badshah [coin of Shah ‘Alam emperor], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], central dot in left side triangle of pellets, edge roughly grained, 1.43g/12h (Prid. – [cf. 429 and Sale, lot 701]; Stevens 2.193, this coin cited, recté Patna; Stevens website image 1382i, second coin; cf. KM. 81.3). About extremely fine and toned with an undisputable Patna privy mark, extremely rare £200-£260 --- Provenance: K. Wiggins Collection, Baldwin Auction 25 (London), 8 May 2001, lot 646. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Murshidabad Mint: Second milled issue, silver Half-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), no hegira date, frozen regnal yr 19 [1794-5], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], central dot in central group of pellets, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge grained right, 5.75g/12h (Prid. 167 [not traced: not in Sale]; Stevens 5.7; Stevens website image 1606, this coin; KM. 97.3). Good very fine and dark-toned, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC AU 55] £300-£400 --- Provenance: ‘Stiller’ Collection, Baldwin Auction 47 (London), 25 September 2006, lot 829, envelope. Owner’s ticket. Although this denomination was not known to Pridmore, a small number of specimens have been seen
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Dacca Mint: Second milled issue, silver Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen date 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1794-6], naming Murshidabad, sikka shah alam badshah [coin of Shah ‘Alam emperor], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], central dot in right side triangle of pellets, edge grained right, 2.90g/12h (Prid. 171 [secret mark attributed to Patna: Sale, lot 616]; Stevens 5.59; KM. 96.2). Extremely fine and attractively toned, rare [certified and graded NGC AU 58] £100-£150 --- Provenance: F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 614 (part), ticket K. Wiggins Collection, Baldwin Auction 25 (London), 8 May 2001, lot 640 (part). Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Third milled issue, silver Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), no hegira date, frozen regnal yr 19 [1819-29], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], no private marks, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge straight-grained, 12.43g/12h (Prid. 172 [Sale, lot 617]; Stevens 6.11; KM. 108); silver Half-Rupee, similar, 6.15g/12h (Prid. 173 [Sale, lot 617]; Stevens 6.15; KM. 105); silver Quarter-Rupee, frozen date 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1819-29], naming Murshidabad, sikka Shah alam badshah [coin of Shah ‘Alam emperor], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], no private marks, edge straight-grained, 3.03g/12h (Prid. 175 [Sale, lot 617]; Stevens 6.17; KM. 104) [3]. First very fine and toned, second good fine, last fine £40-£50 --- Provenance: First bt R. Weir (Unionville, ONT) February 1999 Second SNC (London) November 1980 (9436), ticket. Owner’s tickets
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Third milled issue, silver Quarter-Rupees (2) in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen date 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1819-29], naming Murshidabad, sikka shah alam badshah [coin of Shah ‘Alam emperor], revs. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], central dot in central group of pellets, edge straight-grained, 3.10g/12h (Prid. 174 [Sale, lot 617]; Stevens 6.16; KM. 104); similar, but no private marks, 3.10g/12h (Prid. 175 [Sale, lot 617]; Stevens 6.17; KM. 104) [2]. First good very fine, second extremely fine, both toned £50-£70 --- Provenance: First SNC (London) November 1980 (9437), ticket Second bt Baldwin (London) August 1986. Owner’s tickets
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Introduction of Steam, silver Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), type A/I, no hegira date, frozen regnal yr 19 [1831-5], naming Murshidabad, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], star at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], crescent at top left, edge plain, 12.46g/12h (Prid. 177 [Sale, lot 619]; Stevens 9.5; KM. 117); silver Half-Rupee, similar but no star on obv., edge plain, 6.26g/12h (Prid. 180 [Sale, lot 619]; Stevens 9.9; KM. 116); silver Quarter-Rupee, frozen date 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1831-5], naming Murshidabad, sikka Shah alam badshah [coin of Shah ‘Alam emperor], crescent at centre left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], edge straight-grained, 3.11g/12h (Prid. 183 [Sale, lot 619]; Stevens 9.12; KM. 115) [3]. Last about extremely fine, others good extremely fine and toned £90-£120 --- Provenance: Bt R.A. Cannito (Washington, NJ) July 1980, three tickets. Owner’s tickets
East India Company, Madras Presidency, Early coinages: Mughal style, silver Rupee, in the name of Muhammad Shah (1131-61h/1719-48), Chinapatan, 11[—]h, yr 3 [1721/2], sikka mubarak badshah ghazi muhammad shah [The auspicious coin of the victorious Emperor Muhammad Shah], rev. zarb chinapatan sanat 3 julus maimanat manus [Struck at Chinapatan in the 3rd year of tranquil prosperity], 11.14g/3h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.32, this coin cited; KM. G302 [date not listed]). Punchmark on obverse and test mark on reverse, otherwise good fine, extremely rare £80-£100 --- Provenance: Bt Format (Birmingham, UK) January 1991. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Introduction of Steam, silver Proof Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen date 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1830], naming Murshidabad, sikka shah alam badshah [coin of Shah ‘Alam emperor], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], toothed borders, edge plain, 3.11g/12h (Prid. 184 [Sale, lot 620]; Stevens 9.13; KM. 117). Virtually as struck, attractive dark tone, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC PF 64] £600-£800 --- Provenance: F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 620 (part), ticket Bt Spink (London) May 1983. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Introduction of Steam, silver Proof Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen date 1204h and regnal yr 19 [1830], naming Murshidabad, sikka shah alam badshah [coin of Shah ‘Alam emperor], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year], toothed borders, edge straight-grained, 3.16g/12h (Prid. 185 [Sale, lot 622]; Stevens 9.14; KM. 117). Some spotting on obverse, otherwise extremely fine with grey tone, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC PF 62] £400-£500 --- Provenance: F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 622 (part) Bt Baldwin (London) August 1986. Owner’s ticket and envelope
The only Calcutta Half-Anna of 1188h with a clear date believed to be in private hands East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: post-1761 issues, copper Half-Anna in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1188h [1774-5], shah alam badshah ghazi [Shah Alam victorious emperor], rev. zarb kalkata maimanat 10 panjana [struck at prosperous Calcutta tenth of 5 annas], 13.95g/5h (Prid. 190 [Sale, lot 625]; Stevens 2.199; KM. 17). About very fine, full mint name and date visible, extremely rare, probably less than 10 specimens known £1,500-£2,000 --- Provenance: F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 625, ticket. Owner’s envelope. Apart from the Pridmore plate coin which is inferior to the present piece, no other specimens noted have a full date, including those owned by Prof. Chatt, Ken Wiggins (2001, lots 654-5), Keith Wilford (2009, lot 18) and Paul Stevens (2016, lot 1301, his plate coin)
East India Company, Madras Presidency, Early coinages: Mughal style, silver Rupee, in the name of Muhammad Shah (1131-61h/1719-48), Chinapatan, 11[4–]h, yr 12, 13 or 14 [1730/3], sikka mubarak badshah ghazi muhammad shah [The auspicious coin of the victorious Emperor Muhammad Shah], rev. zarb chinapatan sanat [––] julus maimanat manus [Struck at Chinapatan in the [––] year of tranquil prosperity], 11.63g/11h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; cf. Stevens 2.40-1; cf. KM. G302); together with a similar silver Rupee, Chinapatan, dates off flan, 10.13g/3h (cf. Prid. 130-3; KM. G302) [2]. First very fine and very rare, second fine and toned but considerably underweight £90-£120 --- Owner’s tickets [second on reverse of an unrelated 1977 Spink ticket]
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Pulta mint: Prinsep’s coinage, copper Madosies or Half-Annas (3), in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), all 1195h, yr 22 [December 1780-April 1781], shah alam badshah 1195 [Shah Alam emperor 1195], rev. sanah 22 julus [in the 22nd year of his reign], two stars below widely spaced, large flan, 29mm, 15.66g/6h (Prid. 191 [Sale, lot 626]; Stevens 3.13; KM. 126); similar, 28mm, 13.07g/6h (Prid. 191 var. [Sale, lot 626]; Stevens 3.14; KM. 126); similar but stars closer together, 28mm, 13.85g/12h (Prid. 191 var. [Sale, lot 626]; cf. Stevens 3.15; KM. 126) [3]. First good very fine, second about extremely fine, last good fine and off-centre, the smaller reverse die probably intended for a Quarter-Anna £100-£150 --- Provenance: First K. O’Brien Collection, Part II, Noble Numismatics Auction 46 (Sydney), 16-17 November 1994, lot 2422 (part); R.A. Climpson Collection, Noble Numismatics Auction 85B (Melbourne), 25 July 2007, lot 2156 (part) Second bt R. Weir (Unionville, ONT) February 1999 Third Robert Senior (Glastonbury, UK) FPL 4, Winter 1982 (369); bt R.C. Senior February 1983. Owner’s tickets. John Prinsep (1748-1830), son of an Oxfordshire vicar, entered the cotton trade of the EIC in London as a young man and arrived in India in 1771 intending to join the army, but shortly afterwards resigned his commission. Taken under the wing of Warren Hastings, Prinsep introduced the cultivation of indigo, with which he was to make his fortune as shipments from the previous source of this textile dye for England, South Carolina, were seriously disrupted by the American wars of independence. In 1780 he discovered copper mines at Rohtas and Moghyr in Bihar and, having been granted permission by the authorities to mine the metal and given a 3-year contract to produce a new copper coinage for Bengal in April of that year (with an option to extend it for the next 27 years), started to produce coins in early 1781. Struck on blanks rolled by machinery and in fly presses, these pieces were superior to any copper coin that had been minted in India up to that time, but Prinsep had overestimated the amount of copper in his mines and was forced to mix it with imported sheet and Japan copper. The coins, which unusually do not bear any mark of value, were released into circulation in September 1781 and Alexander Cunningham, Prinsep’s business partner, had met with the Company’s directors in London to appraise them of a situation that he thought would be beneficial to the cowrie-using population in Bengal, but they obviously were not fully aware of. In January 1782 London advised Calcutta to terminate Prinsep’s contract, for a number of reasons but principally because they had not sanctioned it, but the letter informing Calcutta of this decision arrived 12 days too late to cancel it. Prinsep invoked the 27-year extension, but eventually the dispute was settled with the grant of a large financial payment to Prinsep and, in return, Prinsep surrendered his minting equipment at the end of 1784
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Pulta mint: Prinsep’s coinage, copper Fulus or Quarter-Anna in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1195h, yr 22 [December 1780-April 1781], shah alam badshah 1195 [Shah Alam emperor 1195], rev. sanah 22 julus [in the 22nd year of his reign], two stars below closely spaced, small flan, 21mm, 7.27g/10h (Prid. 195ff [not in Sale]; Stevens –; cf. KM. 125). Verdigris spot on obverse edge at 4 o’clock, otherwise extremely fine with considerable original colour, an attractive coin with unusual dimensions, perhaps the dies of a Nim Fulus on a heavyweight flan approximating to that of a Fulus [certified by NGC with incorrect size of 22.8mm, graded MS 64 RB] £150-£200 --- Provenance: Bt Spink (London) 1980. Owner’s ticket
A superb example of the first machine-struck copper coinage for Bengal East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Pulta mint: Prinsep’s coinage, copper Proof or Specimen Fulus or Quarter-Anna in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1195h, yr 22 [December 1780-April 1781], shah alam badshah 1195 [Shah Alam emperor 1195], rev. sanah 22 julus [in the 22nd year of his reign], two stars below widely spaced, large flan, edge plain, 24.5mm, 7.10g/6h (Prid. 196 [not in Sale]; Stevens 3.23; Stevens website image 1534, this coin; KM. 124). One tiny spot on either side conserved, otherwise brilliant mint state, wonderful red-violet tone, a superb example of the first machine-struck copper coinage for Bengal and exceptionally rare [certified and graded NGC SP 66 BN] £2,000-£2,600 --- Provenance: P.J.E. Stevens Collection, Part III, Stephen Album Auction 25 (Santa Rosa, CA), 19-21 May 2016, lot 1304, when certified and graded NGC PF 65 BN, tag. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Madras Presidency, Early coinages: Mughal style, silver Rupee, in the name of Muhammad Shah (1131-61h/1719-48), Chinapatan, 11[—]h, yr 18 [1736/7], sikka mubarak badshah ghazi muhammad shah [The auspicious coin of the victorious Emperor Muhammad Shah], rev. zarb chinapatan sanat 18 julus maimanat manus [Struck at Chinapatan in the 18th year of tranquil prosperity], 11.34g/3h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.42, this coin cited; KM. G302 [date not listed]). Test mark on obverse and punchmark on reverse, otherwise about very fine, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC AU Details: Shroff Marked] £100-£150 --- Provenance: Robert Senior (Glastonbury, UK) FPL 5, November 1984 (591). Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Pulta mint: Prinsep’s coinage, copper Proof or Specimen Pao Fulus or Sixteenth-Anna in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1195h, yr 22 [December 1780-April 1781], shah alam badshah 1195 [Shah Alam emperor 1195], rev. sanah 22 julus [in the 22nd year of his reign], two stars below evenly spaced, large flan, edge plain, 16.4mm, 1.90g/6h (Prid. 202 [not in Sale]; Stevens 3.29; Stevens website image 1540, this coin; KM. 120). Practically as struck with much original colour, exceptionally rare [certified and graded NGC SP 61 BN] £600-£800 --- Provenance: D. Fore Collection, Part II, Baldwin Auction 82 (London), 31 May 2013, lot 861, label. Owner’s ticket and envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Second milled issue, copper Pice (5), in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen regnal yr 37 [1796], sanah julus 37 shah alam badshah [in the 37th year of the emperor Shah ‘Alam], revs. ek pai sikka/yek pai sikka/ek pai sikka [one pai sikka], 30.6mm, 8.73g/12h, 29.8mm (2), 9.13g/12h, 8.67g/12h, 29.2mm, 8.80g/12h, 27.5mm, 7.87g/12h (Prid. 204 [Sale, lot 629]; Stevens 4.29; KM. 52-3) [5]. Second good very fine but flan slightly bent, fourth very fine, others fine £60-£80 --- Provenance: Fourth bt in Singapore Others E. Wodak (Melbourne) Collection; C.E. Pitchfork Collection, Part III, Noble Numismatics Auction 48 (Melbourne), 11-13 July 1995, lot 2142 (part) [acquired c. 1970-1]; R.A. Climpson Collection, Noble Numismatics Auction 85B (Melbourne), 25 July 2007, lot 2154 (part). Owner’s tickets. The fifth coin is the lightest of those in the significant Wodak/Pitchfork/Climpson study group of this series
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Introduction of Steam, red-brown vulcanite ‘Trial’ Pice in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen regnal yr 37 [1831], unsigned, sanah julus 37 shah alam badshah [in the 37th year of the emperor Shah ‘Alam], rev. ek pai sikka/yek pai sikka/ek pai sikka [one pai sikka], edge plain, 21mm, 2.00g/8h (Prid. 209 note, this piece; Stevens –; KM. –). Dark fibre, very fine and probably unique £300-£400 --- Provenance: R.J. Ford (Detroit, MI) Collection SNC (London) April 1982 (3315), ticket. Owner’s ticket. This intriguing piece poses many questions, not least about its physical content, which is unlikely to have had use in a numismatic context before c. 1890. Dick Ford showed it to Fred Pridmore who noted it in his book, but in later discussions with Pridmore about the coin the cataloguer was left in no doubt that he considered it a fabrication
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Introduction of Steam, copper Proof Pice in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen regnal yr 37 [1831], sanah julus 37 shah alam badshah [in the 37th year of the emperor Shah ‘Alam], rev. ek pai sikka/yek pai sikka/ek pai sikka [one pai sikka], edge plain, 6.49g/12h (Prid. 210 [Sale, lot 631]; Stevens 9.27; Stevens website image 1493, first coin illustrated; KM. 57). Raised parts of the design lightly toned, fields brilliant and virtually as struck, very rare [certified and graded NGC PF 63 RB] £500-£700 --- Provenance: D. Fore Collection, Part II, Baldwin Auction 82 (London), 31 May 2013, lot 874, recté 1831 and Stevens 9.27. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Madras Presidency, Early coinages: Mughal style, silver Quarter-Rupee, in the name of Farrukh-Siyar (1124-31h/1713-19), Chinapatan, 1128h, yr 5 [1716/17], sikka zad az fazl hagg bar sim wa zar badshah bahar wa bar farrukh-siyar [Struck money of gold and silver by the grace of God Emperor of sea and land Farrukh-Siyar], rev. zarb chinapatan sanat 5 julus maimanat manus [Struck at Chinapatan in the 5th year of tranquil prosperity], 2.87g/10h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.28, this coin cited; KM. C302). Struck from specially-prepared dies with full impressions of legends and dates, good very fine and toned, exceptionally rare; only one other specimen noted, that on the Stevens website [certified and graded NGC AU 53] £1,500-£2,000 --- Provenance: Baldwin/Ma/Gillio/Monetarium Auction 37 (Hong Kong), 28 August 2003, lot 527. Owner’s ticket and envelope
East India Company, Madras Presidency, Early coinages: Mughal style, silver Quarter-Rupee, in the name of Muhammad Shah (1131-61h/1719-48), Chinapatan, [11—]h, yr 3 [1721/2], sikka mubarak badshah ghazi muhammad shah [The auspicious coin of the victorious Emperor Muhammad Shah], rev. zarb chinapatan sanat 3 julus maimanat manus [Struck at Chinapatan in the 3rd year of tranquil prosperity], 2.84g/12h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.44, this coin cited; Stevens website image 168, this coin; KM. F302 [date not listed]). Struck from specially-prepared dies with full impressions of legends and dates, good very fine and toned, exceptionally rare; only one other specimen (Ashmolean Museum) known [certified and graded NGC AU 55] £1,000-£1,500 --- Provenance: Taisei/Baldwin/Gillio Auction 28 (Singapore), 4 March 1999, lot 1014. Owner’s tickets and envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Benares Mint: First phase, silver Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1195h, yrs 17/22 [December 1780-April 1781], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], fish and sun symbols, differentiating or darogah mark A, rev. zarb muhammadabad banaras sanah 22 julus maimanat manus [struck at Muhammadabad Benares in the 22nd year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 11.34g/2h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 7.37, this coin cited; KM. 40.1). Small edge cut on reverse at 8 o’clock, otherwise extremely fine with attractive light grey tone, very rare £140-£180 --- Provenance: Baldwin Auction 31 (London), 14-15 October 2002, lot 720. Owner’s ticket
An exceptionally rare Mohur of Arkat East India Company, Madras Presidency, Early coinages: Mughal style, Arkat, gold Mohur in the name of ‘Alamgir II (1167-73h/1754-9), yr 6 [1759], sikka mubarak badshah ghazi aziz-al-din muhammad alamgir [The auspicious coin of the victorious Emperor ‘Alamgir, chosen of the faith of Muhammad], rev. zarb arkat sanat 6 julus maimanat manus [Struck at Arkat in the 6th year of tranquil prosperity], 10.78g/3h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.57, this coin; Wiggins, SNC 1993, p.4; KM. –; F –). Several test marks on edge, otherwise about extremely fine and exceptionally rare, if not unique of this date [certified and graded NGC AU Details: Shroff Marked Edge] £10,000-£15,000 --- Provenance: A Selection of Gold Coins of the Mughal Empire, Spink Auction 115 (London), 9-10 October 1996, lot 1999, envelope. Owner’s ticket and envelope. In his article ‘A new mohur of the East India Company from the Arkat Mint’, in SNC February 1993, p.4, Ken Wiggins described and illustrated the only other known mohur of ‘Alamgir II struck at Arkat, clearly dated yr 3 (Stevens 2.56). He speculated that it was struck from bullion supplied by a private individual and perhaps was not intended for circulation. ‘Alamgir II was assassinated on 29 November 1759, perhaps within a matter of weeks of the issue of this coin
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Benares Mint: Second phase, silver Eighth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 12[—]h, yrs 17/48 [1805-6], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], fish and sun symbols, differentiating or darogah mark L, rev. zarb muhammadabad banaras sanah 48 julus maimanat manus [struck at Muhammadabad Benares in the 48th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 1.40g/6h (Prid. 283 [Sale, lot 642]; Stevens 7.132, this coin cited; Stevens website image 1722, this coin; KM. 33 [date not listed]). Good very fine and toned, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC AU 58] £400-£500 --- Provenance: V.M. Brand Collection, Part IX, Sotheby Auction (London), 14 June 1985, lot 197 (part) ‘Stiller’ Collection, Baldwin Auction 47 (London), 25 September 2006, lot 844, envelope. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Benares Mint: Second phase, silver Eighth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 122[–]h, yrs 17/49 [1806-10], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], fish (without barbels) and sun symbols, differentiating or darogah mark N, rev. zarb muhammadabad banaras sanah 49 julus maimanat manus [struck at Muhammadabad Benares in the 49th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 1.41g/10h (Prid. 283 [Sale, lot 642]; Stevens 7.133, this coin cited; KM. 33 [date not listed]). Extremely fine and toned, very rare [certified and graded NGC MS 64] £300-£400 --- Provenance: K. Wiggins Collection, Baldwin Auction 25 (London), 8 May 2001, lot 605, ticket. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Madras Presidency, Early coinages: Mughal style, Arkat, silver Rupee in the name of ‘Alamgir II (1167-73h/1754-9), yr 5 [1758/9], sikka mubarak badshah ghazi aziz-ul-din muhammad alamgir [The auspicious coin of the victorious Emperor ‘Alamgir, chosen of the faith of Muhammad], rev. zarb arkat sanat 5 julus maimanat manus [Struck at Arkat in the 5th year of tranquil prosperity], 11.08g/4h (Prid. 139a [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.62; KM. 384). Some surface marks, good fine, rare £30-£40 --- Provenance: Stephen Album (Santa Rosa, CA) FPL 20, January 1981 (1198) Bt S. Album February 1981. Owner’s ticket
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