Bengal (1831)/37 pice
The first specimen was lot 42397 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. Bengal Presidency. Pice, ND (1831) Year 37. Calcutta Mint. In the name of Shah Alam II. PCGS PROOF-64 Brown. One of just two observed at PCGS for the type (the other grading PROOF-63 Red Brown), this deep amber-brown near-Gem glistens with an abundance of radiant brilliance and an exceptionally sharp and exacting strike." The second specimen was lot 46767 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $312. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. Bengal Presidency. Pice, Year 37 (1831). Calcutta Mint. in the name of Shah Alam II. PCGS MS-65 Red Brown. Plain edge." This type was struck with a frozen date. While the Mughal Empire lasted, the British in Bengal were careful to strike coinage in the emperor's name. This type is common except in proof. It was struck in several modules (KM 52, 11.64 g, KM 54, 6.23 g, and KM 57, shown here). The inscriptions are in Arabic on the obverse and Bengali and Hindi on the reverse. The date ("٣٠٧") is on the lower left of the obverse.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.13 g, copper, plain edge, 23 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-57; S-9.27; Prid-210.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Stevens, Paul, The Coins of the English East India Company, Presidency Series: A Catalogue and Pricelist. London, Spink & Son Ltd, 2017.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2024 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, featuring The Emilio M. Ortiz Collection, The Richard Margolis Collection and The Rutherford Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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