Bengal AH 1180(8)-C mohur Fr-1526

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CNG sale Triton XXVII, lot 1143
Bengal in 1942, from Hammond's atlas

This specimen was lot 1143 in CNG sale Triton XXVII (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $19,600. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA, Colonial. British India. Bengal Presidency. 1699-1835. AV Mohur. In the name of Shah ‘Alam II (AH 1173-1221 / 1759-1806). Murshidabad mint. Dually dated AH 1180 and RY 8 (1766/7). sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah / zarb murshidabad sanah 8 julus maimanat manus; C to right of RY. Once gilt and lightly polished, attractive orange toning. VF. An apparently unique coin of great interest and importance. Ex Robert P. Puddester Collection; F. Pridmore Collection (Part II, Glendining, 18 October 1982), lot 569, purchased from Spink, May 1983; Singapore 24 (27 February 1997), lot 640; Adolphe Menjou Collection (Kreisberg & Schulman 1, 25 January 1957), lot 1587; R. D. Wills Collection (Glendining, 6 December 1938), lot 212.

The large C prominently displayed on the reverse of this exceedingly rare Mohur may indicate that it was part of a special issue authorized by the English government in Calcutta. Paul Stevens writes ‘another possible interpretation is that the letter C was the initial letter of Robert Clive, the Governor of Calcutta at the time.’"

While the Mughal Empire lasted, the British in Bengal were careful to strike coinage in the emperor's name. Only the coppers showed the arms of the East India Company. Unlike other EIC mohurs, which were struck for many years with frozen dates, this one is rare.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specification: 12.36 g, gold, this specimen 19.5 mm diameter, 11.65 g, 6 h axis.

Catalog reference: CEEIC 2.7 = Pridmore 15 = KM A94 = Friedberg 1526 (this coin illustrated).

Source:

  • Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
  • Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
  • Stevens, Paul, The Coins of the English East India Company, Presidency Series: A Catalogue and Pricelist. London, Spink & Son Ltd, 2017.
  • [1]Gasvoda, Michael, Victor England, Eric McFadden, Dave Michaels, Bill Dalzell and Lance Hickman, Triton XXVII, Lancaster, PA: Classical Numismatic Group, LLC, 2023.

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