Bombay Mint – Silver Fifth Rupees (Fanams). Obverse F

Obverse F: From the point of view of execution, this is the most singular of all the obverse types and shows no similarity with any of those listed above. The only sequential link it offers in the design is the inverted figure ‘5’ in the centre. Almost all characters are vestigial, but one can certainly discern the top line as derived from shāh ‘ālam, while the central and bottom lines are bādshāh and sikka mubārak. The central line has some noticeable peculiarities – to the right of the numeral and beyond ‘Sha’, the vestige of the alif in what remains of ‘Ba’ has assumed a sharply backward slash-like form and there is a circle to its right. To the left, there is a cluster of four dots within a curve and one of those always bears a small prong coming out of it. No chronological details are visible.

Obv F