There are 165558 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribeA pair of modern American mahogany drop leaf occasional tables in the Georgian style by Knob Creek Fine Home Furnishings of Danbury, Connecticut, the oval tops with moulded edge over a single end drawer on cabriole legs to pad feet 71 cm x 90 cm x 59 cm high, bears makers stamp to interior of drawers
Stamp collection includes The Diamond Jubilees stamp presentation, 2, The Crown Jewels stamp. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
PHILIPPE HALSMAN (Riga, 1906 - New York, 1979). Stampa alla gelatina ai sali d'argento "SALVADOR DALI', 1953", stampata nel 1972. Titolo e data a matita e timbro dell'artista sul retro. 25,5x19,5 cm. PHILIPPE HALSMAN (Riga, 1906 - New York, 1979). Gelatin-silver print "SALVADOR DALI', 1953", printed in 1972. Title and date in pencil and artist's stamp on the reverse. 25,5x19,5 cm
ALICE SPRINGS JUNE BROWNE (Melbourne, 1923 - Monte Carlo, 2021). Stampa alla gelatina ai sali d'argento "DUE NUDI, anni '80". Timbro copyright dell'artista sul retro. 13,5x19,5 cm su carta 18x24. ALICE SPRINGS JUNE BROWNE (Melbourne, 1923 - Monte Carlo, 2021). Gelatin-silver print "DUE NUDI, anni '80". Copyright stamp of the artist on the reverse. 13.5x19.5cm on paper 18x24.
ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE (Queens, 1946 - New England, 1989). Stampa alla gelatina ai sali d'argento "ROSE, 1986". Sul retro timbro della Fondazione Robert Mapplethorpe che dichiara essere l'esemplare 7/10 stampato nel 1990 a cura della Fondazione. Firma del curatore Michael Ward Stout executor Estate Mapplethorpe. 58,4x48,3 cm su carta 61x50,8 cm. ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE (Queens, 1946 - New England, 1989). Gelatin-silver print "ROSE, 1986". On the back stamp of the Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation declaring it to be copy 7/10 printed in 1990 by the Foundation. Signature of the curator Michael Ward Stout executor Estate Mapplethorpe. 58.4x48.3cm on paper 61x50.8cm.
YAYOI KUSAMA (Matsumoto, Japan, 1929)."Pumpkin red", 2015.Lacquered resin.Stamp on the base.Size: 10 x 7,5 x 7,5 cm.This red pumpkin sculpture depicts the artist's signature optical patterns of brightly coloured polka dots. Kusama first used the gourd design at the 1993 Venice Biennale.Yayoi Kusama is an artist and writer who, throughout her artistic career, has experimented with and developed a wide variety of artistic techniques including painting, collage, sculpture and performance and installations, most of which exhibit her thematic interest in psychedelia. Kusama is a forerunner of the pop art, minimalism and feminist art movements and influenced artists contemporary to her such as Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg. Born in Matsumoto (Nagano) to an upper middle-class family of seed merchants, Kusama began to develop an interest in art from an early age, which led her to study Nihonga (Japanese-style paintings) in Kyoto in 1948. Frustrated with this Japanese style, she became interested in American and European avant-garde, mounting several solo exhibitions of her paintings in Matsumoto and Tokyo during the 1950s. In 1957 she moved to the United States, settling in New York City where she produced a series of paintings influenced by Abstract Expressionism. Kusama switched to sculpture and installation as her primary media and became a fixture of the New York avant-garde with her works exhibited alongside Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg and George Segal in the early 1960s when the artist became associated with the Pop Art movement. Embracing the rise of the hippie counterculture of the late 1960s, Kusama came to public attention when she organised a series of happenings in which nude participants were painted with brightly coloured polka dots. She returned to Japan permanently in 1973, where she has lived ever since in a psychiatric hospital, committed of her own free will. Throughout her career, Kusama has received major awards both in Japan and abroad, including the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2003 and the Japanese Praemium Imperiale in 2006 in the category of painting. The artist has become particularly well known for her installations with mirrors, red balloons, toys and other objects, in the midst of which she placed herself on stage. Her works of recent years are paintings on cardboard in an ingenuist style. Among the most recent exhibitions devoted to her work is the complete retrospective devoted to her by the M.N.C.A. Reina Sofía, in collaboration with the Tate Modern in London, in 2011, which subsequently travelled to the same Tate, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris and the Whitney Museum in New York. Kusama is currently represented at MoMA in New York, the Fukuoka Art Museum, the National Gallery of Modern Art in Tokyo, the Haus der Kunst in Munich, the Art Institute of Chicago and many other museums and art centres around the world.
TADAO ANDO (Osaka, 1941).Untitled.Graphic work and coloured drawing on paper.Hand signed.Size: 15,5 x 13,5 cm.Tadao Ando is a self-taught architect greatly influenced by the work of Le Corbusier, trained mainly during his travels in the USA, Europe and Africa between 1962 and 1969. During his travels he visited buildings by Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Kahn, which clearly influenced the forms and materials of his buildings. In 1968 he returned home and founded Tadao Ando Architects & Associates in Osaka. His achievements as an architect include winning the 1995 Pritzker Architecture Prize from the Hyatt Foundation. His early works show an incipient post-modern style, although clearly adapted to Japanese customs. In 1976 he completed his first work, Azuma House. Tadao Ando divided the house into two volumes, one private and the other communal, between which a courtyard was intended for the "play of wind and light". The presence of natural elements in his works would accompany him throughout his career. During the eighties, Tadao Ando leapt onto the international scene as the leading exponent of the new Japanese architecture. From these years we highlight the Rokko Housing development (1983-1993) with his Chapel on Mount Rokko (1986), in these buildings the influence of Le Corbusier on Tadao Ando is evident in the use of concrete as the main material, although the individualised treatment of light gives his works a personal stamp. In 1992 he designed the Japanese Pavilion for Expo'92 in Seville. A large ephemeral wooden structure. The Museum of the Forest of Tombs (1992) is a space full of symbolism in which Tadao Ando abandons straight lines, but not the coldness of concrete. Among Ando's notable works at the turn of the century are the Awaji Yumebutai in Hyogo (1997) and the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas (2000). Among his latest works, particularly noteworthy are ambitious projects such as the Poly Theatre in Shanghai, a building consisting of a reinforced concrete box, enveloped by a glazed lattice skin, and perforated by steel tunnels lined with aluminium panels, which have a wood-like finish. A building that preserves the essence of Tadao Ando's work, but developed using more modern techniques.
East India Company, Madras Presidency, Later coinages 1812-35, Calcutta minting, silver Proof Half-Rupee, 1830-5 issue, ‘Arkat’, sikka mubarak badshah ghazi aziz-ud-din muhammad alamgir [The auspicious coin of the victorious emperor chosen of the faith of Muhammad Alamgir], frozen date 1172h above, rev. zarb arkat sanat 6 julus maimanat manus [Struck at Arkat in his 6th year of tranquil prosperity], rose and crescent, edge straight-grained, 11.64g/12h (Prid. 271 [Sale, lot 417]; Stevens –; KM. 435). Brilliant and virtually as struck, deep iridescent tone, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC PF 63] £1,800-£2,200 --- Provenance: V.M. Brand Collection, Part IX, Sotheby Auction (London), 14 June 1985, lot 155 [from St Louis Stamp & Coin Co, MO, 1923] Bt Baldwin (London) August 1986, ticket and envelope. Owner’s ticket
The Caldecott/Brand countermarked Bombay Pice, 1788 East India Company, Bombay Presidency, Early coinages: English design, copper Pice, 1788, one side countermarked bomb 1788 in two lines within dotted oblong stamp, small numerals in date, 12.91g (Prid. 117, this coin illustrated [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.123 [= Horizon I, 119, same die]; KM. 191, this coin illustrated). No trace of undertype, old surface pitting otherwise good very fine with dark patina, an attractive example of this great rarity £2,000-£2,600 --- Provenance: J.B. Caldecott Collection, Sotheby Auction (London), 11-13 June 1912, lot 55 (part) V.M. Brand Collection, Sotheby Auction (London), 14 June 1985, lot 166. Owner’s ticket. Literature: Illustrated in Fred Pridmore, The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations...Part 4, India, Volume I, p.161. Illustrated in George Cuhaj et al, South Asian Coins and Paper Money, Indian Edition, Iola, 2013, p.438. Described as a pattern by KM. and some other recent cataloguers, probably because no records appear to exist which explain the reason for their production, it seems likely that they were the result of a request from Tellicherry to Bombay, in April 1788, for more pice or, quite possibly that they were struck at Tellicherry, where Bombay pice passed freely. Weights of the known specimens vary markedly and this example might have passed as a double-pice, as the cataloguer of the Brand collection postulated
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: post-1761 issues, First gold coinage, gold Sixty-Fourth Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), presumed Kalkata, yr 5 [1763-4], 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 [––] sanah 5 julus maimanat manus [struck at [––] in the 5th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 0.17g/3h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.6, this coin cited; Stevens website image 1297i, second coin illustrated; Kulkarni, Numismatic Digest vols. 27-8, p.117, this coin; KM. –; F 1525g). Extremely fine and of the highest rarity, only one other specimen on the Stevens website [certified and graded NGC MS 65] £1,000-£2,000 --- Provenance: Bt H. Simmons (London). Two owner’s tickets, one detailing an extension of the calligraphy on the coin, plus envelope. Prashant Kulkarni stated that the mint on the die must be Kalkata, citing similarity to Nazarana rupees of 1175 and 1176h bearing this mint name, although Stevens has grouped all the first gold coinage together under a Calcutta/Murshidabad heading (p.13)
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), 1183h, yr 10 [May-August 1769], 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 10 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 10th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 12.34g/4h (Prid. 18 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.11; KM. 94.1; F 1528). A few minor marks, otherwise extremely fine, an exceptionally well-struck example of the first year of this handsome coinage with full borders, rare £2,000-£2,600 --- Provenance: Baldwin/Markov/M & M Auction XXIII (New York), 6 January 2010, lot 368, label. Owner’s ticket. In the wake of the departure of Clive, and the withdrawal of the C-marked coinage, there was a shortage of gold specie in Calcutta which Armenian merchants suggested the authorities remedy by striking mohurs and their fractions with a higher intrinsic value than previously. Accordingly, and with the approval of London, new dies were prepared in Murshidabad and coins struck there and in Calcutta from May 1769. The coins met with universal approval and continued to be issued until the end of 1788
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), 1184h, yr 11 [April-August 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], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 11 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 11th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 12.29g/1h (Prid. 20 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.13; KM. 94.1 [date not listed]; F 1528). Evidence of sea immersion, otherwise extremely fine and well-centred, rare £1,200-£1,500 --- Provenance: ‘Diana’ Collection, Baldwin Auction 54 (London), 6 May 2008, lot 51, label. Owner’s ticket and envelope
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
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), 1196h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1781-2], 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], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 12.28g/11h (Prid. 32 [Sale, lot 571]; Stevens 2.26; KM. 94.1; F 1528). Minor marks in fields, otherwise very fine and toned £800-£1,000 --- Provenance: H.M. Lingford (Bishop Auckland, UK) Collection [from Baldwin (London) November 1948], ticket Bt Baldwin (London) August 1986, envelope. Owner’s ticket. Following the closure of the Murshidabad mint in May 1777, the style and titles used on Bengal coins, together with the frozen regnal year 19, was introduced as ‘a silent operation of government’ (Pridmore, p.204) and henceforth all coins were struck at Calcutta
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), 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], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 12.31g/8h (Prid. 35 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.29; KM. 94.1; F 1528). Two small punch-marks on edge, otherwise good very fine [certified and graded NGC AU Details: Shroff Marked Edge] £1,000-£1,200 --- Provenance: Bt in London 1994. Owner’s ticket and envelope
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), 1202h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1787-8], 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 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 12.37g/8h (Prid. 38 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.32; KM. 94.1; F 1528). Good very fine, reverse well-centred [certified and graded NGC AU Details: Shroff Marked Edge] £1,000-£1,200 --- Provenance: Taisei/Baldwin/Gillio Auction 24 (Singapore), 27 February 1997, lot 641, label. Owner’s ticket and envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: post-1761 issues, Third gold coinage, gold Half-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1184h, yr 11 [April-August 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], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 11 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 11th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 6.13g/3h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens website 2.35A; KM. 92 [date not listed]; F 1529). Minor marks on edge, otherwise about very fine, excessively rare of this date £1,500-£2,000 --- Provenance: Bt A.P. de Clermont (London) July 1997, ticket. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: post-1761 issues, Third gold coinage, gold Eighth-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1202h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1787-8], 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 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 1.55g/12h (Prid. 51 [Sale, lot 572]; Stevens 2.47; KM. 89; F 1531). Virtually as struck with considerable mint bloom, a superb example, very rare [certified and graded NGC MS 66] £1,200-£1,500 --- Provenance: A Parcel of East India Company Issues for Bengal, Glendining Auction (London), 3-4 October 1988, lot 488 Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 132. Owner’s ticket and envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: post-1761 issues, Third gold coinage, gold Eighth-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1203h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1788-9], 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 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 1.55g/12h (Prid. 52 [Sale, lot 573]; Stevens 2.48; KM. 89; F 1531). Minor edge splits and surface flaws, otherwise very fine and rare [certified and graded NGC AU 58] £300-£400 --- Provenance: Bt Baldwin (London) August 1986, ticket, envelope in the hand of Fred Pridmore. Owner’s ticket and envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: post-1761 issues, Third gold coinage, gold Sixteenth-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1182h, yr 10 [May-August 1769], 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 10 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 10th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 0.77g/7h (Prid. 53 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.49; KM. 87; F 1532). Extremely fine with much mint bloom, very rare [certified and graded NGC MS 62] £900-£1,200 --- Provenance: Baldwin Auction 68 (London), 28-9 September 2010, lot 4258, label. Owner’s ticket and envelope
An unpublished Sixteenth-Mohur, 1200h East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: post-1761 issues, Third gold coinage, gold Sixteenth-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1200h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1785-6], 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], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 0.77g/7h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens –; Stevens website –; KM. 87 [date not listed]; F 1532). Slightly bent otherwise good very fine, of the highest rarity, the date unpublished £1,000-£1,500 --- Provenance: Bt in London September 1985. Owner’s envelope. Mohurs, half- and eighth-mohurs are known for 1200h – this is the first recorded sixteenth-mohur for that date. Quarter-mohurs for 1200h have yet to be recorded
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: post-1761 issues, Third gold coinage, gold Sixteenth-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1202h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1787-8], 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 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 0.76g/12h (Prid. 58 [Sale, lot 574]; Stevens 2.54; KM. 87; F 1532). About extremely fine and well-centred, very rare £600-£800 --- Provenance: Bt in London September 1985. Owner’s envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: post-1761 issues, Third gold coinage, gold Sixteenth-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1203h, frozen regnal yr 19 [1788-9], 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 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 0.78g/12h (Prid. 59 [Sale, lot 575]; Stevens 2.55; KM. 87; F 1532). Extremely fine and well-centred with mint bloom, very rare [certified and graded NGC MS 63] £600-£800 --- Provenance: A.N. Brushfield Collection, Part V, Glendining Auction (London), 2-3 November 1949, lot 11 (part) H.M. Lingford (Bishop Auckland, UK) Collection F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 575, ticket and envelope Bt W.J. Noble (Singapore) February 1987. Owner’s envelope
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 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 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, 12.28g/12h (Prid. 62 [Sale, lot 577]; Stevens 4.3; KM. 103.1; F 1537). About extremely fine £600-£800 --- Provenance: Bt in London March 1984. Owner’s ticket and envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Second milled issue, gold Half-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 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, 6.15g/12h (Prid. 63 [Sale, lot 578]; Stevens 4.5; KM. 101; F 1538). Good very fine, red tone, scarce [certified and graded NGC AU 58] £400-£500 --- Provenance: SNC (London) November 1980 (9423), ticket. 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)
An early Trial Mohur from Murshidabad, 1794 East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Murshidabad Mint: Second milled issue, gold Trial Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1793-1818], 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, central 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], wide borders with thick grained edge, edge grained right, 12.35g/12h (cf. Prid. 71 [not in Sale]; Stevens 5.2c; cf. KM. 103.2; cf. F 1537). Two small file marks on reverse edge, otherwise very fine and exceptionally rare, only one other noted by the cataloguer [certified and graded NGC AU 58] £3,000-£4,000 --- Provenance: Bt in London 1988. Two owner’s tickets and envelope. These intriguing mohurs, with broad toothed rims and thick grained edges, at least one of which is known from Patna (Stevens 5.30; Stephen Album Auction 25, lot 1343, ex Stevens, ex Wheeler 137), replicate the style of the first milled issue rupees from Calcutta (Prid. 153). It remains a possibility that the equipment initially used at Calcutta was then moved to, or replicated in, Murshidabad and Patna; in any event, the dies for all the Bengal mints were produced at Calcutta
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Murshidabad 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], 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, central 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], edge grained right, 12.38g/12h (Prid. 71 [Sale, lot 580]; Stevens 5.2; KM. 103.2; F 1537). Virtually as struck with full mint bloom, most attractive and very rare [certified and graded NGC MS 63] £2,000-£2,600 --- Provenance: A Parcel of East India Company Issues for Bengal, Glendining Auction (London), 3-4 October 1988, lot 502 Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 138. Owner’s ticket and two envelopes
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Third milled issue, gold Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1819-25], 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 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge straight-grained, 13.29g/12h (Prid. 77 [Sale, lot 582]; Stevens 6.1; KM. 112; F 1540). Brilliant mint state, most attractive [certified and graded NGC MS 64] £900-£1,200 --- Provenance: SNC (London) February 1994 (516), two tickets and envelope. Owner’s envelope. Because the Company was seeking to introduce a uniform standard of fineness among the gold and silver coinages of the three presidencies, from 1819 the weight of the Bengal mohur was increased and its fineness decreased to 22 carats, while the new coins featured straight-grained edges
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Third milled issue, gold Half-Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1819-25], 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 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge straight-grained, 6.61g/12h (Prid. 79 [Sale, lot 583]; Stevens 6.3; KM. 111; F 1541). Virtually as struck with much brilliance, most attractive, scarce [certified and graded NGC MS 65] £700-£900 --- Provenance: H.M. Lingford (Bishop Auckland, UK) Collection [from Baldwin (London) November 1948], ticket Bt Baldwin (London) August 1986, two envelopes. Owner’s envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Fourth milled issue, gold Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1825-30], 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 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge grained left, 12.38g/12h (Prid. 83 [Sale, lot 585]; Stevens 6.7; KM. 113; F 1543). Minor file marks on edge, otherwise good very fine £700-£900 --- Provenance: Taisei/Baldwin/Gillio Auction 24 (Singapore), 27 February 1997, lot 650, label. Owner’s ticket and envelope. The reduction in the fineness of Bengal gold coins in 1819 was not well accepted, so the authorities reverted to the previous 1793 standard in 1825 and adopted a left-grained edge. From 1830 a tiny crescent appears on the reverse at the top left and these coins continued to be struck until December 1835
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 Rupees (2), in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1177h, yr 5 [October 1763-July 1764], 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, [privy mark arrangement 2/3], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 5 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 5th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 11.47g/1h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.66; KM. 84.1 [date not listed]); 1179h, yr 7 [September 1765-June 1766], similar, privy marks 2/3, 11.61g/4h (Prid. 87 [Sale, lot 588]; Stevens 2.71; KM. 84.1) [2]. First with test mark in edge, otherwise good fine and on a large flan, rare, second very fine and toned £100-£150 --- Provenance: Second C.H. Biddulph (London) Collection; F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 588 (part) [from Baldwin (London) December 1973], ticket; bt Spink (London) May 1983. Owner’s tickets
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1761 issues, silver Rupees (2), in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1[––], yr 9 [1767-8], 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, privy mark arrangement 2[/3], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 9 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 9th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 11.53g/12h (cf. Prid. 91-2 [Sale, lot 588]; cf. Stevens 2.77-2.78; KM. 84.1); 1183h, yr 10 [May-August 1769], similar, but crescent moon at left, privy marks 5/3, 11.58g/6h (Prid. 95 [Sale, lot 589]; Stevens 2.111; KM. 84.2) [2]. First fine, second good fine, both scarce £100-£150 --- Provenance: First V.M. Brand (Chicago, IL) Collection; F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 588 (part) [from Spink (London) June 1974], ticket; bt Spink (London) May 1983. Owner’s tickets
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
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 6 [1764-5], 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], sun at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 6 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 6th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 1.43g/12h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.98; KM. 81.1 [date not listed]). Very fine and toned, an extremely rare date [certified and graded NGC XF 45] £180-£220 --- Provenance: Format (Birmingham, UK) FPL 53, March 1986 (2164), envelope. Owner’s envelope
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1761 issues, silver Sixteenth-Rupees (2), in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 11[–]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, revs. zarb murshidabad sanah 7 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 7th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 0.70g/8h, 0.67g/12h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.107; KM. 80.1 [date not listed]) [2]. First very fine, second nearly so, both rare £60-£80 --- Provenance: Baldwin Auction 33 (London), 6-7 May 2003, lot 1005 (part). One owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1761 issues, silver Sixteenth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 8 [1766-7], 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 8 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 8th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 0.73g/3h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.108; KM. 80.1). Good very fine, dark-toned, very rare £80-£100 --- Provenance: Baldwin Auction 33 (London), 6-7 May 2003, lot 1005 (part), recté yr 8. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1761 issues, silver Sixteenth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 10 [1768-9], 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 10 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 10th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 0.53g/9h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.156; KM. 80.1). Good very fine and well-struck, dark-toned, very rare £80-£100 --- Provenance: Baldwin Auction 33 (London), 6-7 May 2003, lot 1005 (part). Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Patna (Azimabad) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), early style, 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 azimabad sanah 7 julus maimanat manus [struck at Azimabad in the 7th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], trisul at left, 11.21g/8h (cf. Prid. 104 [not in Sale]; cf. Stevens 5.16; KM. 19). Very fine and toned, rare £100-£150 --- Provenance: Robert Senior (Glastonbury, UK) FPL 4, Winter 1982 (355) Bt R.C. Senior February 1983. Owner’s ticket. The mint at Patna fell under nominal control of the Company in 1765 but in reality operations were controlled by the Nawab and his officials until the early 1770s
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Patna (Azimabad) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), early style, 1180h, yr 7 [June-September 1766], 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 7 julus maimanat manus [struck at Azimabad in the 7th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], trisul at left, 11.51g/9h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens –; Stevens website –; KM. 19 [date not listed]). Some weakness, otherwise good fine and dark-toned, extremely rare, the date/regnal year combination clear and apparently unpublished £100-£150 --- Provenance: Bt Format (Birmingham, UK) February 1992. Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Patna (Azimabad) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), early style, 11[—]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 azimabad sanah 8 julus maimanat manus [struck at Azimabad in the 8th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], trisul at left, 11.44g/8h (cf. Prid. 105 [not in Sale]; cf. Stevens 5.17-5.18; KM. 19). Edge splits on reverse carefully re-filled, otherwise good fine, very rare £60-£80 --- Provenance: Baldwin Auction 33 (London), 6-7 May 2003, lot 1003 (part). Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Patna (Azimabad) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), early style, 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 azimabad sanah 10 julus maimanat manus [struck at Azimabad in the 10th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], trisul at left, 11.33g/2h (Prid. 108 [Sale, lot 592]; Stevens 5.21; KM. 19). Fine, very rare £70-£90 --- Provenance: Baldwin Auction 33 (London), 6-7 May 2003, lot 1003 (part). Owner’s ticket
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 Rupees (3), in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1184h, yr 11 [April-August 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 4/3, 11.59g/3h (Prid. 110 [Sale lot 593]; Stevens 2.117; KM. 84.2); 1185h, yr 12 [April-July 1771], similar, privy marks 5/3, 11.58g/8h (Prid. 112 [Sale, lot 593]; Stevens 2.126c; KM. 84.2); 1186h, frozen yr 12 [1772-3], similar, privy marks 5/0, 11.46g/8h (Prid. 113 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.127; KM. 84.2) [3]. Last fine, others about very fine £80-£100 --- Owner’s tickets
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1771 issues, silver Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1187h, frozen yr 12 [1773-4], 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 12 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 12th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], plain floral ornmanent, privy mark arrangement 4/3, 11.54g/7h (Prid. 114 [Sale, lot 594]; Stevens website 2.130c; KM. 84.2). Very fine and toned, extremely rare £120-£150 --- Provenance: K. Wiggins (Crowborough, UK) Collection F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 594 (part) [from K.W. December 1971], ticket Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 151. 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
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1771 issues, silver Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 12 [1770-1], 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], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 12 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 12th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 2.87g/9h (Prid. 124 [not in Sale]; cf. Stevens 2.147; KM. 82.2). Numerous shroff marks on the edge, otherwise very fine, rare [certified and graded NGC VF Details: Shroff Marked Edge] £120-£150 --- Provenance: A Parcel of East India Company Issues for Bengal, Glendining Auction (London), 3-4 October 1988, lot 506 (part) Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 155 (part). Owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1771 issues, silver Quarter-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 12 [1770-1], 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], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 12 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 12th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 2.77g/7h (Prid. 124 [not in Sale]; cf. Stevens 2.147; KM. 82.2); silver Eighth-Rupees (2) in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 12 [1770-1], similar, 1.43g/3h (Prid. 128 [Sale, lot 597]; cf. Stevens 2.152-2.153; KM. 81.2), 118[–]h, yr 15 [1773-4], similar, 1.39g/3h (Prid. 129 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.154; KM. 81.2) [3]. First about fine, others about very fine £50-£70 --- Provenance: Baldwin Auction 33 (London), 6-7 May 2003, lot 1005 (part). First with owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1771 issues, silver Eighth-Rupees (2), in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 12 [1770-1], 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], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 12 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 12th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 1.38g/2h (Prid. 128 [Sale, lot 597]; cf. Stevens 2.152-2.153; KM. 81.2), 118[–]h, yr 15 [1773-4]; similar, 1.43g/4h (Prid. 129 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.154; KM. 81.2) [2]. Good very fine £60-£80 --- Provenance: First Baldwin Auction 33 (London), 6-7 May 2003, lot 1005 (part) Second A Parcel of East India Company Issues for Bengal, Glendining Auction (London), 3-4 October 1988, lot 506 (part); Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 155 (part). Owner’s tickets
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1771 issues, silver Sixteenth-Rupees (3), in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 12 [1770-1], 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], crescent at left, revs. zarb murshidabad sanah 12 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 12th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 0.73g/2h, 0.71g/11h, 0.70g/2h (Prid. 132 [not in Sale]; Stevens 2.159; KM. 80.2) [3]. Fine to very fine, first and last toned £80-£100 --- Provenance: First two Baldwin Auction 33 (London), 6-7 May 2003, lot 1005 (part). One owner’s ticket
East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1771 issues, silver Sixteenth-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 118[–]h, yr 15 [1773-4], 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, revs. zarb murshidabad sanah 15 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 15th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], 0.74g/2h (Prid. 133 [Sale, lot 598]; Stevens 2.160; KM. 80.2). Lightly scratched on both sides, otherwise very fine and toned, rare £90-£120 --- Provenance: F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 598, ticket Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 154. Owner’s ticket
Loading...
