Pondichery 1836 doudou
This specimen was lot 784 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "FRENCH INDIA: AE doudou, Pondichery, 1836, well struck, two-year type, extremely nice problem-free grade for this type, PCGS graded MS62 BN, ex Charles W. Lueders III Collection, ex SARC Auction 7, Lot 714." 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 coin was struck 1836-37. It has a very low catalog value but is seldom seen.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specifications: 4 g, bronze, 16 mm diameter, this specimen 4.19 g.
Catalog reference: KM-52, Lec-81, G-21.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [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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