Madras (1807) 1/4 pagoda
This specimen was lot 52380 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. [[India, Madras Presidency|Madras Presidency. 1/4 Pagoda, ND (1807). Madras Mint. NGC EF-45. Fairly deeply toned, this fractional denomination presents even handling across the high points and retains a charming, original nature overall. Ex: David Fore Collection (Baldwin's 09/2013) Lot #2062." Despite the substantial mintage, this type is scarce. The larger half pagodas attract attention from Latin American collectors as they were made from cut down Spanish colonial portrait dollars. The Madras mint, a facility of the British East India Company, minted pagodas under license from the Mughal emperor since the seventeenth century. This is the first milled type. The assets of the East India Company were transferred to the British government after the Indian Mutiny of 1857 and the mint was closed in 1869.
Recorded mintage: 1,773,000.
Specification: 10.58 g, silver, 27.2 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-343; Prid-155.
- 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 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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