Bengal AH1229(49) rupee
This specimen was lot 31388 in Heritage sale 3073 (Chicago, April 2019), where it sold for $1,140. The catalog description[1] noted, "British India. Bengal Presidency Rupee AH 1229 Year 49 (1862) MS67 NGC. An immaculate offering approaching technical perfection. Superbly struck, with superlative surfaces which, through die polish lines emanating outwards from the center, gives the bizarre impression that the viewer is heading towards the coin at speed." This type was struck at Benares in AH 1229 (1813 AD). Banaras, or Benares, is today known as Varanesi, a city of 1.2 million. It was conquered by the East India Company in 1775 and made part of the Bengal Presidency. The lines radiating outward from the center are caused by die erosion, not die polish.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 11.66 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 42.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano and Warren Tucker, Heritage World and Ancient Coins Auction 3073, featuring the Lake County Collection of British coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2019.
- 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.
Link to:
- Bengal AH1204(45) 1/4 rupee
- Bengal AH 1209(37) mohur, Benares mint
- Bengal (1806-10)/49 1/8 rupee KM-33
- Bengal AH 1229/17-49 rupee
- Maratha AH 1229 rupee KM-335
- Bengal AH 1229/17-49 1/2 rupee KM-Pn2.1, Benares
- (1820-31)/45 rupee
- (1831)/37 pice
- (1831-33)/45 rupee
- Coins and currency dated 1813
- return to coinage of India, Bengal Presidency