Bengal (1831-33)/45 rupee
The first specimen was lot 42393 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2024), where it sold for $3,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. Bengal Presidency. Rupee, "Year 45" (1831-33). Calcutta (as "Farrukhabad") Mint. in the name of Shah Alam II. PCGS PROOF-64. EXTREMELY RARE as a type when struck in a proof format, this exceptional piece displays bold and full rims, with razor sharp details and deep blue to black toning. The fields are delicately mirrored are still reflective underneath the toning, with no major mars or marks." This specimen was offered again as lot 75293 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice Online Auction (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2025), where it sold for $3,840. The second specimen was lot 607 in Stephen Album sale 50 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2024), where it did not sell. The catalog description[2] noted, ""BENGAL PRESIDENCY: AR rupee, Farrukhabad, year 45, East India Company issue in the name of Shah Alam II, plain edge, struck in Calcutta with frozen date and mint, an attractive proof quality example! NGC graded Proof 62, RR." 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. The date ("٤٥") is on the center of the obverse.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 11.68 g, 0.909 fine silver, plain edge.
Catalog reference: KM-77; Prid-327; Stevens-9.16.
- 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.
- [2]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 50, featuring selections from the Dr. Robert A. Rosenfeld Collection, the Hakim Hamidi Collection, the Almer H. Orr III Collection and the Solar Collection, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.
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