Pondichery (1720-1837) 2 fanon KM-49
This specimen was lot 33237 in Heritage sale 3064 (Chicago, April 2018), where it sold for $180. The catalog description[1] noted, "French India. Pondicherry 2 Fanon ND (1720-1837) AU55 NGC. A splendid offering of this popular French colonial issue intensified by ample die polish and gorgeous champagne and light blue tones around the devices. NGC appears to have supposed this piece (erroneously) to be KM46, which was struck for a much shorter period." The French established a number of trading stations on the coast of India in the seventeenth century and made a serious challenge to British claims of supremacy in the eighteenth century. After a close run campaign fought during the Seven Years War, British command of the sea told and the French were defeated. Their zone of control was reduced to the trading stations they had long held, including Pondichery, where this specimen was struck. The SCWC lists several different double fanons for this locale in the eighteenth century and we side with Heritage in assigning this example to KM 49. It sold for a fraction of the catalog value.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 3 g, silver, 14-15 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM 49.
- Michael, Thomas, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800, 7th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2016.
- [1]Cristiano Bierrenbach and Warren Tucker, Heritage World Coin Auction 3064, featuring the Doug Robins Collection of Canadian Tokens, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2018.
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