Bengal AH 1229/17-49 rupee
This specimen was lot 74043 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, November 2023), where it sold for $100. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. Mughal Empire. Rupee, AH 1229 Year 17-49 ("1813"). Muhammadabad Banaras Mint. In the name of Shah Alam II. NGC MS-65. A pretty Gem, with an intense visual appeal and stunning charm yet present." 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. This type was struck there AH 1227-1229 and is scarce. The date on this example is at the bottom, nearly completely off the planchet.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 11.33 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-41; Prid-286.
- 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, November 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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