Bengal AH 1195(22) 1/4 anna KM-125
This specimen was lot 2740 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $144. The catalog description[1] noted, "BENGAL PRESIDENCY: AE 1/4 anna, Pulta, AH1195 year 22 (frozen), incorrectly called 1/2 anna on the slab, NGC graded AU55 BN, ex Solar Collection. John Prinsep opened a copper mint at Pulta in 1780 under authority of the government, after he and Alexander Cunningham discovered the copper mines at Rotasgarh. The mint operated from 1780 to 1786." This type was struck with a frozen date in many varieties. While the Mughal Empire lasted, the British in Bengal were careful to strike coinage in the emperor's name. The inscriptions are in Arabic. The date should read "۲۲".
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 7.27 g, copper, 26 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: Stv-3.22, Prid-195, KM-125.
- 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]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 51, featuring the Howard Daniel III Collection of Asian Coins, the Almer H. Orr III Collection of World Coins and the Joe Sedillot Collection of German Coins, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2024.
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