Mughal Empire AH 1220/47 rupee KM-560

Steve Album sale 51, lot 2747

This specimen was lot 2747 in Steve Album Auction 51 (Santa Rosa, CA, January 2025), where it sold for $288. The catalog description^[1] noted, "BENGAL PRESIDENCY: AR rupee, Akbarabad (Agra), AH12xx year 47, in the name of Shah Alam II, nice strike; struck to the local rupee standard (known examples 10.95 g to 11.18 g, VF-XF, R. Akbarabad was taken over by the British during the Second Maratha War, on October 18, 1803 (2 Rajab 1218), during Shah Alam's 46th year. Only rupees dated year 47 can securely be assigned to the British period, and 47 was also the last year of silver coinage struck at this mint." This issue is the successor to KM 554 struck by the Shah years 43-46 and is the last rupee that can be called Mughal. Shah Alam II survived only because his neighbors, including the British, could not decide on who or what should replace him.

Recorded mintage: unknown.

Specifications: 10.95-11.18 g, silver, this specimen 11.05 g.

Catalog reference: Stv-8.1/2, KM 560.

Sources:

• 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]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.

Links:

• AH 1205/30 (1790) rupee, Hathras Mint
• Bengal AH1204(45) 1/4 rupee
• Bhopal (1803)/46 rupee
• AH 1219/47 rupee, Shahjahanabad (Delhi) mint, struck by the British
• AH 1220/48 (1805) nazarana rupee, Shahjahanabad mint
• Coins and currency dated 1803