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Patna (‘Azimābād) Mint – Hammered Coinages – Gold, Shāh ‘Ālam II – 1765 to 1768

The first gold coins issued from the Patna mint, under the authority of the British, were minted in 1765 in an attempt to fill the gap left by the scarcity of silver coins (see Calcutta and also Comments below). The Calcutta coins are reputed to be those marked with the letter C, but the identity of the Patna coins is not known.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Denomination

AH

RY

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

See Calcutta

-

Mohur

-

Fractions may also have been struck

NR

 

Patna (‘Azimābād) Mint – Hammered Coinages – Gold Mohur et infra – Shāh ‘Ālam II – 1768 to 1769

 

sikka zad bar haft kishwar sāya fazl ilāh hāmī dīn muḥammad shāh ‘ālam bādshāh [AH] (= Defender of the religion of Muḥammad, Shāh ‘Ālam Emperor, Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, [AH]).

ẓarb ‘azīmābād sanah [RY] julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at ‘Azīmābād in the [RY] year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

 

 

Mohur

Eighth Mohur

Actual Weight (g)

11.04-11.06

0.77

Actual Diameter (mm)

19

12.0

Composition

Gold

Edge

Plain

 

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Denomination

AH

RY

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.10

√ 1608a.

-

Mohur

-

10

Bald

Baldwin et al (2011), New York Sale XXV, lot 436

RRR

5.11

√ 1608.

-

Eighth Mohur

-

10

Ste

 

RRR

 

Patna (‘Azimābād) Mint – Hammered Coinages – Gold Mohur et infra – Shāh ‘Ālam II – 1769 to 1770

The intermediate style of gold coin was issued from the Patna mint in RY 10 & 11 of Shāh ‘Ālam. The coins had some characteristics of the Murshīdābād sicca, but retained the mint name, ‘Azīmābād. Note heavier weight

 

sikka zad bar haft kishwar sāya fazl ilāh hāmī dīn muḥammad shāh ‘ālam bādshāh [AH] (= Defender of the religion of Muḥammad, Shāh ‘Ālam Emperor, Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, [AH]).

ẓarb ‘azīmābād sanah [RY] julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at ‘Azīmābād in the [RY] year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

 

 

Mohur

Quarter Mohur

Sixteenth Mohur

Actual Weight (g)

12.33

3.10

0.77 (from Pr)

Actual Diameter (mm)

22.8-23.1

~15

~12 (from Pr)

Composition

Gold

 

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Denomination

AH

RY

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.11C

√ 1609.

-

Mohur

1182

10

Kawale

 

RRR

5.12

√ 1609b.

-

”

1183

10

Ste

 

5.12A

√ 1609c.

-

Quarter Mohur

1182

10

Tody, Bombay

RRR

5.13

√ 1609e.

-

”

1183

11

Bhandare

Ref: S. Bhandare from Vienna museum. See JONS (2010), 205, p. 31.

5.14

1610.

60

Sixteenth Mohur

1182

10

 

BM

RRR

 

Patna (‘Azimābād) Mint –Shāh ‘Ālam II – Hammered Coinages – Silver Nazarana Rupee

 

Sikka zad bar haft kishwar sāya fazl ilāh hāmī ud-dīn muḥammad. shāh ‘ālam. bādshāh [AH] (= Defender of the religion of Muḥammad, Shāh ‘Ālam Emperor Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, [AH]).

ẓarb ‘Azīmābād sanah [RY] julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at ‘Azīmābād in the [RY] year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

 

Actual Weight (g)

11.60

 

Actual Diameter (mm)

 

Composition

Silver

 

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Denomination

AH

RY

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.14C

√ 1610m.

-

Nazarana Rupee

1182

10

Noon

RRR

 

Patna (‘Azimābād) Mint –Shāh ‘Ālam II – Hammered Coinages – Silver Rupee 1765 to 1769

 

Sikka zad bar haft kishwar sāya fazl ilāh hāmī ud-dīn muḥammad. shāh ‘ālam. bādshāh [AH] (= Defender of the religion of Muḥammad, Shāh ‘Ālam Emperor Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, [AH]).

ẓarb ‘Azīmābād sanah [RY] julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at ‘Azīmābād in the [RY] year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

 

 

Rupee

Half Rupee

Quarter Rupee

Eighth Rupee

Sixteenth Rupee

Official Weight (g)

11.64?

5.82

2.91

1.45

0.73

Actual Weight (g)

11.21-11.57

5.74

?

1.42

0.74

Actual Diam (mm)

22.5-25.0

19-0-19.4

~15

11.3-11.5

9.0-9.5

Composition

Silver

 

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Denomination

AH

RY

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.15

√ 1611.

-

Rupee

1178

6

Ste, RJ

Ref: Baldwin (2001), sale 25 (Wiggins), lot 593.

R

5.16

√ 1612.

104

”

1179

7

Ste, Noon

 

R

5.16C

√ 1612c.

-

”

1180

7

Noon

 

R

5.17

√ 1613.

105

”

1180

8

Ste

 

R

5.18

√ 1614.

-

”

1181

8

Ste

Ref: Baldwin (2002), sale31, lot 704.

R

5.19

√ 1615.

106

”

1181

9

Ste but no AH, RJ

R

5.20

1616.

107

”

1182

9

 

 

R

5.21

√ 1617.

108

”

1182

10

Ste, Bald, HC, Craig, Noon

 

R

5.21C

√ 1617b.

-

Half Rupee

xxxx

8

Rhodes

RRR

5.22

√ 1617c.

-

”

xxxx

9

Ste

Reported by Nick Rhodes, 2006.

RRR

5.23

√ 1617e.

-

”

xxxx

10

Rhodes

Reported by Nick Rhodes, Sept 2006.

RRR

5.24

√ 1617g.

-

Quarter Rupee

xxxx

7

Rhodes

Reported by Nick Rhodes, Dec 2008.

RRR

5.25

√ 1617j.

-

Eighth Rupee

xxxx

7

Ste

Reported by Hemanth Chopra but date not visible.

RRR

5.26

√ 1617m.

-

Sixteenth Rupee

xxxx

7

Ste

Reported by Hemanth Chopra.

RRR

 

Patna (‘Azimābād) Mint – Shāh ‘Ālam II – Hammered Coinages – Silver Rupee 1771 to 1773

Like the gold coins, the intermediate style of silver coins was issued in RY 10 & 11. The coins had the moon on the obverse and the flower on the reverse, in imitation of Murshīdābād siccas, but retained the mint name ‘Azīmābād.

 

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, [AH]).

ẓarb ‘azīmābād sanah [RY] julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at ‘‘Azīmābād in the [RY] year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

 

Actual Weight (g)

11.33-11.60

Actual Diameter (mm)

24.0-25.5

Composition

Silver

Edge

Plain

 

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

AH

RY

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.27

√ 1618a.

-

1183

10

Rhodes

Ref: Nick Rhodes from photo from a collector in India.

RRR

5.27A

√ 1618c.

-

1183

11

Bhandare

Nazarana. Ashmolean museum.

RRR

5.28

√ 1618.

134

1183

11

Ste, Bald, Rhodes, RJ, Noon

 

RR

 

Patna Mint – Shāh ‘Ālam II – Hammered Coinages – Silver, Shāh ‘Ālam II – 1770 to 1772

The silver coins issued from the Patna mint, under the authority of the British from 1770 to 1772, seem to be indistinguishable from coins minted at Calcutta (see Calcutta or Calcutta) and also Comments below).

 

 

Patna Mint (‘Azimābād) – Milled Coinages – Gold Mohur – Wide Border

 

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, 1202).

ẓarb murshīdābād sanah 19 julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at Murshīdābād in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

 

Official Weight (g)

12.36

Actual Weight (g)

12.35-12.38

Actual Diameter (mm)

27.1-27.5

Composition

Gold

Edge

Grained Right

See Privy Marks

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Denomination

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.30

√ 1509c

-

”

Ste

Ref: Baldwin (2000), sale 22 (Wheeler), lot 137. Wide border. Dot in right circle of dots on obverse.

RRR

 

Patna Mint (‘Azimābād) – Milled Coinages – Gold Mohur and Half Mohur – Narrow Border

 

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, 1202).

ẓarb murshīdābād sanah 19 julūs maimanat mānūs (= Struck at Murshīdābād in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

 

 

Mohur

Half Mohur

Official Weight (g)

12.36

6.18

Actual Weight (g)

12.35-12.38

6.17-6.19

Actual Diameter (mm)

27.1-27.5

~22

Composition

Gold

Edge

Grained Right

See Privy Marks

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Denomination

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.29

√ 1509.

68

Mohur

Sov, Noon

Dot in right circle of dots on obverse.

RR

5.31

√ 1510.

69

Half Mohur

Sov, SA, RJ, Noon

Ref: Baldwin (2000), sale 22 (Wheeler), lot 136.

RRR

See also Calcutta, Murshīdābād and Dakka mints

 

Patna Mint (‘Azimābād) – Milled Coinages – Gold Quarter Mohur – Shāh ‘Ālam II – 1795-1796

 

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)

3.09

Actual Weight (g)

?

Actual Diameter (mm)

~17

Composition

Gold

Edge

Grained Right

See Privy Marks

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.32

1511.

70

 

None traced. Dot in left group of dots on reverse.

NR

See also Calcutta, Murshīdābād and Dakka mints

 

Patna Mint (‘Azimābād) – Milled Coinages – Silver Rupee – Shāh ‘Ālam II – 1793

Dated AH 1202. The first milled silver coins issued from the Patna mint have the AH date, 1202, on the obverse. Pridmore assigned the coins with this secret mark (dot in right-hand circle) to the Dacca mint, but see discussion for the reasons for changing this.

 

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 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

 

Official Weight (g)

11.64

Actual Weight (g)

11.63

Actual Diameter (mm)

29.3-29.6

Composition

Silver

Edge

Grained Right

See Privy Marks

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Denomination

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.33

√ 1621c.

155

Rupee

Bald, Noon

Dot in right circle on obverse

R

See also Calcutta and Murshīdābād

 

Patna Mint (‘Azimābād) – Milled Coinages – Silver Rupee and Half Rupee – Shah Alam – 1794 to 1796

Later silver coins did not have the AH date on the obverse except the quarter rupee. Pridmore assigned the coins with this secret mark to the Dacca mint but see discussion for the reasons for changing this.

 

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 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity).

 

 

Rupee

Half Rupee

Official Weight (g)

11.64

5.82

Actual Weight (g)

11.48-11.62

5.75

Actual Diameter (mm)

26.3-27.1

22.2-22.3

Composition

Silver

Edge

Grained Right

See Privy Marks

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Denomination

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.34

√ 1513.

163

Rupee

Ste, Noon

Dot in right circle on obverse

RR

5.35

√ 1514.

164

Half Rupee

RJ, Noon

RR

See also Calcutta, Murshīdābād & Dakka mints

 

Patna Mint (‘Azimābād) – Milled Coinages – Silver Quarter Rupee – Shah Alam – 1794 to 1796

 

1204 sikka shāh ‘ālam bādshāh (= AH 1204 Coin of Shāh ‘Ālam Emperor).

ẓarb murshīdābād sanah 19 (= Struck at Murshīdābād in the 19th year).

 

Official Weight (g)

2.91

Actual Weight (g)

2.89-2.91

Actual Diameter (mm)

16.7-17.6

Composition

Silver

Edge

Grained Right

See Privy Marks

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.36

√ 1624.

165

Bald, Noon, Zeno, SA

Dot in left group on reverse.

RR

See also Calcutta, Murshīdābād & Dakka mints

 

Patna Mint (‘Azimābād), Copper – 1794

The Patna assay master produced copper coins as a trial in 1794, but the identity is not known. He may well have used the existing rupee dies.

 

Possible design for Blake’s copper coins struck at Patna

 

Catalogue

Cat No.

Photo Link

Pr. No.

Denomination

Provenance

√ Comments

Rarity

5.37

1624c.

-

Pice

 

Blake (mint master) made a trial of 10 maunds of copper in 1794 – probably about 2500 copper coins in 1794. None known so far.

NR