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Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Gold Mohur & Half Mohur – Shāh ‘Ālam II– 1819

See earlier section for gold coins struck between 1800 and 1818. In 1819, the fineness of the coins was reduced and the weight increased so that the coins contained the same amount of gold. The edges are straight-grained.

sikka zad bar haft kishwar sāya fazl ilāh hāmī dīn muḥammad shāh ‘ālam bādshāh 1202 (= Defender of the religion of Muḥammad, Shāh ‘Alma Emperor, Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, 1202).		ẓarb murshīdābād sanah 19 julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at Murshīdābād in the 19^th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

	Mohur	Half Mohur
Official Weight (g)	13.36	6.63
Actual Weight (g)	13.25-13.29	6.61-6.64
Actual Diameter (mm)	28.3-28.8	23.2-23.8
Composition	Gold (91.7%)
Edge	Straight Grained

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Status	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.1	√ 1401.	77	Mohur	Currency	Ste, Noon, Bombay		S
6.2	1402.	78	”	Proof			RR
6.3	√ 1403.	79	Half Mohur	Currency	Ste, Noon		S
6.4	1404.	80	”	Proof			RR

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Gold Quarter Mohur – Shāh ‘Ālam II – 1819

1204 sikka shāh ‘ālam bādshāh ghāzī (= 1204, coin of Shāh ‘Ālam the victorious Emperor).		ẓarb murshīdābād sanah 19 (= Struck at Murshīdābād in year 19).

Official Weight (g)	3.31
Actual Weight (g)	3.30-3.32
Actual Diameter (mm)	18.0-18.8
Composition	Gold (91.7%)
Edge	Straight Grained

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Status	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.5	√ 1405.	81	Quarter Mohur	Currency	Ste, Noon		S
6.6	1406.	82	”	Proof			RR

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Gold Mohur – Shāh ‘Ālam – 1825 to 1835

In 1825, the fineness of the gold coins was increased to that of the coins issued before 1818. The weight was accordingly reduced and the coins given an edge grained-left.

sikka zad bar haft kishwar sāya fazl ilāh hāmī dīn muḥammad shāh ‘ālam bādshāh 1202 (= Defender of the religion of Muḥammad, Shāh ‘Ālam Emperor, Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, 1202).		ẓarb murshīdābād sanah 19 julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at Murshīdābād in the 19^th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

Official Weight (g)	12.36
Actual Weight (g)	12.34-12.37
Actual Diameter (mm)	26.3-26.8
Composition	Gold (99.2%)
Edge	Grained Left

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Status	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.7	√ 1407.	83	Currency	Ste, Tody, Noon	See Todywala (2010), sale 49, lot 214. Wt = 12.32g for a silver trial? Not sure of the authenticity. See photos.	S
6.8	√ 1408c.	-	Copper Trial?	Bald	Copper trial striking. Possibly for new steam-driven machinery? Ref: Baldwin (2010), sale 68, lot 4263. Wt = 6.33g.	RR

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Gold Mohur – Shāh ‘Ālam – Pattern/Trial?

This low-weight coin may have been struck as a trial for a coin of the same weight as the Madras and Bombay coins but no reference has so far been found in the records. Note the absence of the dot cluster in the centre of the obverse.

sikka zad bar haft kishwar sāya fazl ilāh hāmī dīn muḥammad shāh ‘ālam bādshāh 1202 (= Defender of the religion of Muḥammad, Shāh ‘Ālam Emperor, Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, 1202).		ẓarb murshīdābād sanah 19 julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at Murshīdābād in the 19^th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

Actual Weight (g)	10.92
Actual Diameter (mm)	26
Composition	Gold
Edge	Grained Left

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Status	Provenance	Comments	Rarity
6.8C	√ 1408e.	-	Pattern or trial	Noon		RRR

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Silver Pattern Rupee 1818

A pattern probably prepared in 1818 as an example of a coin bearing European style emblems.

Arms of the Company within a plain circle, Surrounded by the legend. AUSPICIO . REGIS . ET . SENATUS . ANGLIAE: * (Under the auspices of the King and parliament of England). All within a raised, toothed border.	The legend in English and Persian: ẓarb kalkata (= Struck at Calcutta): CALCUTTA RUPEE All within an open wreath of palm branches. All surrounded by a raised, toothed rim.

Official Weight (g)	11.65
Actual Weight (g)	11.65-11.68
Pridmore Diameter (mm)	28.7
Composition	Silver
Edge	Straight Grained

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.9	√ 1432.	361	Bald, Noon		RRR

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Silver, Initial Issue of 1819 – Mint Name Murshīdābād

In 1819, new silver coins of lower standard and higher weight were issued. They have straight-grained edges. The early issues lack the star below bād of bādshāh at centre left on the obverse and have a larger diameter.

sikka zad bar haft kishwar sāya fazl ilāh hāmī dīn muḥammad shāh ‘ālam bādshāh (= Defender of the religion of Muḥammad, Shāh ‘Ālam Emperor, Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes).		ẓarb murshīdābād sanah 19 julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at Murshīdābād in the 19^th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

Official Weight (g)	12.43
Actual Weight (g)	12.35-12.40
Actual Diameter (mm)	28.3-28.9
Composition	Silver (91.7%)
Edge	Straight Grained

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.10	√ 1433.	-	Ste		R

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Silver Rupee & Half Rupee 1819 – Mint Name: Murshīdābād

Star below bad at left on obverse.

sikka zad bar haft kishwar sāya fazl ilāh hāmī dīn muḥammad shāh ‘ālam bādshāh (= Defender of the religion of Muḥammad, Shāh ‘Ālam Emperor, Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes).		ẓarb murshīdābād sanah 19 julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at Murshīdābād in the 19^th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

	Rupee	Half Rupee
Official Weight (g)	12.43	6.21
Actual Weight (g)	12.27-12.46	6.09-6.22
Actual Diameter (mm)	26.5-27.0	23.8-24.0
Composition	Silver
Edge	Straight Grained

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.11	√ 1434.	172	Rupee	Ste, Noon	No letter S on reverse. See photos.	N
6.12	√ 1435.	-	Trial Striking?	Bald	Overstruck on an Ottoman Maḥmūd II silver 5-Qurush. Ref: HK/Singapore (1995), Sale 25, Lot 673.	RRR
6.13	√ 1436.	176	Rupee	Ste, ClassNG, Noon	Tiny letter S on top left of reverse, one with lion countermarks. See photos.	S
-	1436c.	-	”		Unusual, crude style. Probably a contemporary forgery. Edge grained left. Baldwin (2001), sale 25 (Wiggins), lot 645.	S
6.15	√ 1437.	173	Half Rupee	Ste, Noon	No star below bād	N

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Silver Quarter Rupee 1819 – Mint Name: Murshīdābād

1204 sikka shāh ‘ālam bādshāh ghāzī (= 1204, coin of Shāh ‘Ālam the victorious Emperor).		ẓarb murshīdābād sanah 19 (= Struck at Murshīdābād in year 19).

Official Weight (g)	3.11
Actual Weight (g)	3.11-3.13
Actual Diameter (mm)	18.7-19.1
Composition	Silver
Edge	Straight Grained

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Edge	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.16	√ 1438.	174	Quarter Rupee	SG	RJ, Noon	Dot in second group of dots. Pr. sale lot 617.	RR
6.17	√ 1439.	175	”	SG	Ste, Noon	No dot privy mark. See Photos. Comes with tall and short date (R. Weir).	N
-	1440.	-	Forgery?”	SG		Dated 1402 & low weight (2.78g). Forgery. Ref: Wiggins, ONSNL No. 161, 1999, p. 20.	NR
-	√ 1441.	-	Forgery	P	RJ from Mitchiner M1910	Plain edge. Ref: Mitchiner , M1910. Not sure of status. Could be a forgery?	NR

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Copper Weight for Rupee 1819 to 1833

	Min. wt. new Cal. Rup. straight-milled and plain edged
An oval circle containing the legend. The weight above and the weight units below. NB star at bottom		Blank

Official Weight (g)	12.31 (190 grains)
Actual Weight (g)	12.26
Actual Diameter (mm)	26.5
Composition	Copper
Edge	Plain

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Provenance	Comments	Rarity
6.20	√ 1453.	-	Ste		S

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Silver Rupee 1817 to 1819 – Mint Name: Farrukhābād

Struck at the mints of Farrukhābād and Calcutta. The mints are identified by tiny privy marks.

sikka zad bar haft kishwar sāya fazl ilāh hāmī dīn muḥammad shāh ‘ālam bādshāh. (= Defender of the religion of Muḥammad, Shāh ‘Ālam Emperor, Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes).		ẓarb farruckābād sanah 45 julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at Farrukhābād in the 45^th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

Official Weight (g)	11.21
Actual Weight (g)	10.89-11.14
Actual Diameter (mm)	26.6-27.0
Composition	Silver
Edge	Grained Right

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.21	√ 1458.	317	Noon, Zeno, RJ		R

See also Farrukhābād mint

Privy Marks

Inverted V for Calcutta Mint	Bead for Farrukhābād Mint

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Silver Rupee & Half Rupee 1820 to 1831 – Mint Name: Farrukhābād

This issue differs from previous one because of the edge and slightly increased weight. Struck at Farrukhābād, Calcutta, Banāras and Saugor.

sikka zad bar haft kishwar sāya fazl ilāh hāmī dīn muḥammad shāh ‘ālam bādshāh (= Defender of the religion of Muḥammad, Shāh ‘Ālam Emperor, Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes).		ẓarb farruckābād sanah 45 julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at Farrukhābād in the 45^th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

	Rupee	Half Rupee
Official Weight (g)	11.68	5.84
Actual Weight (g)	11.57-11.63	5.78-5.82
Actual Diameter (mm)	25.5-26.1	20.6-21.2
Composition	Silver
Edge	Straight Grained

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.22	√ 1459.	320	Rupee	Ste, Noon		C
6.23	√ 1460.	321	Half Rupee	Bald, Noon		RR

See also Farrukhābād, Banāras and Saugor mints.

Privy Marks

Calcutta Rupee and Half, Obverse. Inverted V	Calcutta Rupee and Half, Reverse. No Dot in Circle

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Silver Quarter Rupee 1820 to 1831 – Mint Name: Farrukhābād

This issue differs from previous one because of the increased weight. Struck at Farrukhābād, Calcutta, Banāras and Saugor.

1204 sikka shāh ‘ālam bādshāh ghāzī (= 1204, coin of Shāh ‘Ālam the victorious Emperor).		ẓarb farrukhābād sanah 45 (= Struck at Murshīdābād in year 45).

Official Weight (g)	2.92
Actual Weight (g)	2.88-2.91
Actual Diameter (mm)	15.6-16.9
Composition	Silver
Edge	Straight Grained

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.24	√ 1461.	322	Ste, Noon		C

See also Farrukhābād, Banāras and Saugor mints.

Privy Marks

Calcutta Quarter Rupee. Obverse. Inverted V

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Copper Pice et infra 1800 to 1831

For mintage figures see text

sanah julūs 37 shāh ‘ālam bādshāh (= in the 37th year of the Emperor Shāh ‘Ālam).		The value in three languages: Bengali: ek pai sikka. Persian: yek pai sikka. Hindi: ek pai sikka. (Translation of all languages = One pai sikka). All within a plain, raised rim.

Official Weight (g)	Varies. See below
Actual Weight (g)	”
Actual Diameter (mm)	”
Composition	Copper
Edge	Plain

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Date Issued	Status	Official wt (g)	Actual wt (g)	Actual Diam (mm)	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.26	√ 1488.	205	1809	”	6.54	6.54-6.94	25.8-25.9	Ste, Noon		C
6.27	√ 1489.	206	1817	”	6.47	6.06-6.42	26.8-27.5	Ste, Noon	Larger, round flans	R
6.28	√ 1490.	207	1829	”	”	5.87-6.43	25.9-26.3	Ste, Noon	Very neat flans. See below for an example in pewter.	C
6.29	√ 1491.	208		Proof	”			Ste, Bald, Noon		RRR

Example in pewter. Photo from Barbara Mears. Could this be genuine or concocted for collectors?

Photo from Nick Rhodes. Not sure what this is yet. Could it be a trial for the early Calcutta copper coins?

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages – Copper, Square Pattern/Trial Pice 1807

The legend on these coins is not known but probably the same as that on the round copper pice but struck on a square flan. See comments for further information

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Date Issued	Status	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
6.30	1491m.	-	1807	Pattern or Trial		None known to exist.	NR

Calcutta Mint – Milled Coinages Tola Weights

	Tola	Half Tola	Quarter Tola
Actual Weight (g)	11.51	5.81	2.79-2.91
Actual Diameter (mm)	26.5	22.9	16.3-16.6
Composition	Copper
Edge	Plain

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Axis	Provenance	Comments	Rarity
	√ 1499m.	-	Tola		Ste		S
	√ 1499p.	-	Half Tola		Ste
	√ 1499r.	-	Quarter Tola	↑↑	Ste
	√ 1499t.	-	Quarter Tola	↑↓	Ste