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Extracts from The India Office Records and Bombay Gazetteer

The port of Broach on the river Namada is a town of great antiquity and was an important centre of trade and commerce for a considerable time until superseded in importance by Surat. Broach was never a mint of the Moghul emperors. In the eighteenth century it was part of the private estate of the Governor of Gujarat. In 1736 Mirza Abdullah Beg, the Commandant of the port, who was elevated to the rank of Nawob, held it from him.

A mint was established at Broach during the time of the second Nawob Nek Alam Khan II by permission of the emperor Ahmad Shah Bahadur (1748-1754). Whether coins were issued at Broach in the names of Ahmad Shah or Alamgir II is questionable for none appear to have been published. The first issue appears to be in the name of Shah Alam II (1759-1806). In 1772 the Nawob of Broach was deposed by the East India Company whose army took the city, the belief being that the Nawob was in alliance with the Gaikwars who had designs on the Company’s territory.

The Company took over the mint at Broach and continued striking rupees et infra and copper coins. The coins formerly struck by the Nawabs had a flower as the predominant mark but the Company changed this to the cross of St. Thomas. Although the mark is often present on the coins, very few will be found to bear regnal years, which are almost always off the flan.

In 1782, by virtue of the treaty of Salbye, the Company made over the port of Broach to Sindhia of Gwalior. It seems that coins of the same type as those previously struck were continued. In 1803, after the treaty of Bassein, Broach once again became a possession of the EIC. Coins were almost certainly struck during this second period, probably from 1803 until 1806, when the mint seems to have been closed [1], but their identity is not certainly known [2].

The Bombay Gazetteer of 1877 for Broach, states that between 1800 and 1806 there was an average of 925,330 rupees struck, and a reference to Broach as a mint is contained in an extract from the Bombay Public Consultations 19^th December 1806, where there is a suggestion that the mint could be closed [3].

3^rd October 1781 [4]. Bombay Consultations

The President acquainted the Board that there is a quantity of private silver on the island [Bombay] brought by the freight ships from the Gulf of Mocha and that it would be of the highest benefit to the place if such an advantage could be held out to the proprietors as would induce them to continue their bullion upon the island & convert it into Bombay currency, otherwise that they will as usual export it to Surat and Broach where it will yield a larger return from the mints.

Letter from the Collector at Broach to Government dated 31^st October 1814 [5]

He gave the value of rupees produced at Broach for each year from 1787 to 1803 under Maratha control and the following values under EIC control:

Date	Value of Rupees (Rupee.Quarters)
1803	959,686
1804	1,469,700
1805	1,837,597
1806	355,686
1807	662,228.2
1808	-
1809	24,283

P103 onwards has various letters and petitions about accepting the Surat rupee at par with the Broach rupee in Broach, and discussions about the Surat rupee being more widely used at Kaira.

8^th March 1820 [6]. Letter from the Mint Committee to Chief Secretary Warden.

Starts by addressing the issue of the weight of the Broach seer and suggests that a standard Broach seer should be sent for examination. Then goes on:

With regard to the weight [of the pice] as that will necessarily require to be regulated by the exchangeable value, the latter will come first under consideration, and in this matter, as there seems to be no fixed standard, and although great deference is due to local opinions, as far as local convenience is concerned, we have no hesitation in recommending the division of 64 pice to a rupee to be adopted, as being that approved by the Honble the Court of Directors as the most convenient for subdivision, and as that which will, in all probability be hereafter introduced throughout the districts subordinate to this Presidency.

This increase in the number of pice to be given for a rupee, will require a corresponding reduction in the weight, or at all events some alteration will be necessary, depending partly on the average price of copper, and partly on the wages of labour at Broach regarding which we possess no information whatever.

Under these circumstances two modes of proceeding present themselves – one to assign the privilege of coining the pice to whichever of the proposers offers the best terms for the community, or, in other words, will agree to coin the Broach seer into the smallest number of pice to be exchanged 64 for the rupee – the other to fix, on such data as we have, the number of pice into which the seer is to be coined, and which we may be tolerably certain will leave a considerable profit, and sell the privilege of coining to the highest bidder.

In the present state of our information, we are inclined to prefer the former method, and accordingly beg to recommend it to the consideration of the Honble Board. In either case it will be necessary to bind the amount to be coined, to the real wants of the place, and these may be readily ascertained either by the value of the pice falling below 64 for the rupee or by an unusual quantity finding its way to the Collectors treasury, since, as coined under the sanction of Government, they must be received in payment of the revenues, and in either case the coinage should be instantly stopped.

In conclusion we have only to suggest that specimens of the pice should from time to time, during the progress of the coinage, be sent down for the examination of the Mint and Assay Masters at the Presidency, touching their workmanship and the purity of the metal employed

The Board approves of the Committees suggestions in regard to the new copper coinage proposed by the Judge at Broach.

Resolved that orders be issued to the Collector to carry the measures into effect.

Ordered that a standard Broach seer be obtained and Mr Shubrick [the Collector at Broach] directed to send from time [to time] to the Assay Master for examination specimens of the new Broach pice as proposed by the Committee.

8^th April 1820 [7]. Letter from Judge at Broach to Farish.

The bearer (Ismal ull Famee) will deliver to you a standard Broach seer as required in your letter of the 16^th ultimo.

Ordered that the Broach seer accompanying the preceding letter be sent to the Mint Committee.

19^th April 1820 [8]. Letter from the Collector (C Shubrick) of Broach to Mr Secretary Farish.

Having agreeable to your letter under date the 16^th ultimo invited proposals for coining a new copper coinage into pice, I have the honor to submit a translate of a tender I have accepted with musters of the pice to be coined by Choksee Pranwullul Goculdass and Rassukdass Bhugwandass. I beg to notice in the Government letter no time is limited to the coinage, or any restriction upon the circulation or import of any other pice.

From the mint contractors to the Collector of Broach dated 4^th April 1820

In conformity to your proposals inviting proposals for coining new copper pice for the currency of the Zillah of Broach we beg leave to propose to coin one Broach seer of copper into 51 pice, and the same to be exchanged at 64 for a rupee. For the due performance of this contract we offer our securities Nankasoor Bhugwanbhoy and Bapoo Lallabhoy. The coining may be discontinued whenever the Surkar will direct – the weight of each new pice is of mass as the muster of which we herewith offer for your approbation. Should your goodness grant us this contract we are ready to undertake it as this was our former profession.

Ordered that copies of the preceding papers with the muster of pice accompanying the preceding letter be referred to the Mint Committee for their opinion.

10^th May 1820 [9].

Letter from Mint Committee to Mr Chief Secretary Warden, dated 10^th May 1820.

In acknowledging the receipt of Mr Secretary Farish’s letter of 29^th ultimo referring for our opinion copy of one from the Collector at Broach, dated 19^th instant and of the tender from Choksee Pranwallul Goculdass and Rassukdass Bugwandass for the coining of copper pice at that station, we beg you will have the goodness to lay before the Honble the Governor in Council the accompanying copy of a letter to our address from the Assay Master dated the 4^th instant, on the subject in question, which renders any further observations from us unnecessary beyond the expression of our entire concurrence in the views and opinions entertained by that gentleman.

Then goes on about coins in the Deccan

Letter from the Assay Master to the Mint Committee dated 4^th May 1820

The receipt from Government by the Committee of the Broach Collector’s letter and enclosures to Mr Secretary Farish, together with the specimens of the new Broach pice, having furnished me with information which I did not possess when I addressed you on the 29^th ultimo, I request that the following remarks may be substituted for those which I then offered.

I find that the average weight of the eight specimens sent by the Collector to Government and myself is 139 grains 15dwt each. 51, the number into which the seer is divided would therefore weigh 7,096 grains 6dwt or 40 grains 35dwt less than the weight of the Broach seer lately sent to the Committee.

Of these pice, 64 are to be exchanged for a rupee or 8905 grains 60dwt of copper and, as Mr Shubrick says nothing to the contrary, I conclude that the contractor finds his own copper.

The manufacture of the pice is as the Committee have observed, wretched in the extreme, and ought certainly to be improved even if the rates of coining should be increased, or what amounts to the same thing, the seer should be divided into a greater number of pice, say 52, or even more if necessary.

The price of such copper here is rather less than 16 rupees per Bombay maund of 28 avoirdupois or 196000 grains. Estimating however the price of copper at Broach at 17 rupees per Bombay maund, the contractor will receive forty four thousand, six hundred and five grains of copper in every maund for his labour and profit or about 22 ¾ per cent, which seems sufficient moderate.

25^th October 1820 [10]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the Broach Collector to Government, dated 14^th October 1820

I have the honor to submit for the orders of the Honble the Governor in Council, a petition with its translate from the Shroffs, merchants and dealers in gold and silver, praying from the great scarcity of the Broach rupee, that a coinage might take place and the mint be re-established.

There then follows a copy of the petition dated 12^th October 1820.

28^th October 1820 [11].

Letter from the Mint Committee to Mr Chief Secretary Warden.

In handing up for the purpose of being submitted to the Honble the Governor in Council, the enclosed copy of a letter to our address from the Assay Master under date the 26^th instant, together with the specimens of the Broach copper pice, which accompanied it, and with reference to our former letter on the same subject of the 10^th May last, we beg recommend that the coinage be immediately stopt.

Letter from Assay Master to Mint Committee dated 26^th October 1820

I have just received the accompanying specimens of the Broach new copper coins, which are so imperfectly manufactured that I think the Committee will agree with me in opinion that the manufacture of them should be immediately stopt.

I beg to refer the Committee to my letter of the 4^th of May to their address, respecting the weight and workmanship of the first specimens and to observe that those now sent weigh only 137 grains 50dwt each or 1 grain 65dwt less than the former.

Ordered that the Collector of Broach be directed immediately to stop the coinage of the Broach pice in consequence of their manufacture being reputed imperfect.

12^th June 1821 [12]. Letter from the Mint Committee to Farish.

We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 2^nd instant referring for our opinion the copy of one from the Judge of Broach dated the 22^nd ultimo, representing the inconvenience experienced there from a deficient copper currency.

In reply we request you will have the goodness to state to the Honble the Governor in Council, that we see no objection to the copper coinage stopped by the orders of Government of the 2^nd November last, as suggested by us on the 28^th of the preceding month, being re-established, provided the parties undertaking it will agree to improve the manufacture of the pice, and to which a relaxation of the terms of their tender under date the 4^th April 1820 (which formed an accompaniment to your letter of the 29^th of the same month) as suggested in the 4^th paragraph of the Assay Master’s letter to our address of the 4^th May following (a copy of which was submitted with our letter of the same month) would probably induce them to consent.

The exact extent of the relaxation so granted, should however be reported for the information of Government, and of the Mint Committee, as well as specimens of the coinage be, from time to time, forwarded for the examination of the mint officers.

Resolved that orders to the effect recommended by the Committee for establishing the copper coinage at Broach, which was stopped under date the 2^nd November last be issued to the Assistant Collector in charge of Broach.

18^th October 1821 [13]. Substance of a petition from Sewram Puthajee Sonee (Goldsmith of Broach) to the Honble Mountstuart Elphinstone.

In essence he says that a certain Jumuyestram has gained undue influence with the Collector at Broach and this Jumuyestram is corrupt. The author of the petition should be given the management of the mint and he encloses five pice for examination. The petition is so badly written that it is difficult to read and translate. He is told to refer the matter to the collector at Broach.

13^th February 1824 [14]. Letter from the Acting Collector of Broach to Government.

In pursuance of the instructions of Government recorded in the 2^nd paragraph of your letter to my predecessor under date the 16^th March 1820, I have the honor to report that I have this day granted a contract for the coinage of pice to the extent of Rupees 7,000, seven thousand, to Chocksee Pranwallub Gokooldas, Ruseeckbhaee Bhugwandass, Khooshall Purmanund and Jugdees Mungul Pahruck on terms which were affected under a similar engagement in the year 1821.

I do myself at the same time the honor to state for the information of Government that the exact extent of the relaxation of the terms reported by the late Mr Shubrick in his letter of the 19^th of April 1820, is under the present contract eight pice in the [seir], my report of which to you is grounded on the orders conveyed to this dept. in your communication of the 18^th June 1821.

18^th February 1824. Letter to the Acting Collector of Broach from Government.

I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 13^th instant and to inform you that a superabundant supply of pice having been coined in the Southern Concan, the Honourable the Governor in Council desires, if it be practicable, that the contract which you have entered into for the coinage of pice to the extent of seven thousand rupees, may be annulled, and requests you will adopt the necessary measure for that purpose, reporting the same to Government, that if the contract be annulled a supply may be sent you by Mr Dunlop [now Collector in the Southern Concan].

10^th March 1824 [15]. Letter from the Acting Collector at Broach (Robert Boyd) to Government dated 28^th February 1824.

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 18^th instant, and to report for the information of Government, that I have stopped the coining of pice for the present.

Should the contractors hereafter represent themselves as aggrieved, I am in hopes that the Honorable the Governor in Council will permit me to make up to them any reasonable compensation, for such loss as they may actually appear to have suffered by foregoing advantages of their contract.

The inhabitants of Broach having already complained of the want of pice, I am induced to bring to the notice of Government the expediency of a supply being sent up as soon as possible, as well as of an order being passed declaring the coin to be sent, current in the Broach zillah, and receivable in payment of the revenue.

10^th March 1824. From Government to the Acting Collector at Broach.

I am directed by the Honorable the Governor in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 28^th ultimo and to inform you that the Collector in the Southern Concan has been instructed to forward to you a consignment of copper pice to the amount of rupees five thousand.

The Honble the Governor in Council instructs you to issue the pice at the rate of sixty four pice the rupee, and to engage by proclamation, to receive them back at the same rate in all revenue transactions. The issue of these pice is not however to be compulsory, but it will be optional with individuals to receive them or not.

It may be expected that the success or failure of this measure will afford some further insight into the real nature and extent of the wants of the community.

21^st February 1824. Letter from the Collector of Sea Customs in Guzerat to Government.

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated the 12^th instant informing me that the Collector of land revenue will receive a consignment of copper pice to the amount of rupees ten thousand, and I have in consequence issued the proclamation in my department as directed by the Honble the Governor in Council.

17^th March 1824 [16]. Letter from Government to the Criminal Judge at Broach dated 15^th March 1824.

I am directed by the Honble the Governor in Council to inform you that the Collector at Broach having represented the want of copper pice in that zillah, the Collector in the Southern Concan has been instructed to forward to Mr Boyd [the Collector of Broach], a consignment from the surplus copper currency of that district to the amount of 5000 rupees.

The Collector at Broach and the Collector of sea customs in Guzerat have been instructed to issue the pice at the rate of sixty four pice the rupee and to engage by proclamation to receive them back at the same rate in all revenue transactions. The issue of these pice is not however to be compulsory but it will be optional with the individuals to receive them or not.

It may be expected that the success or failure etc (see above).

24^th March 1824 [17]. Letter from the Judge at Broach to Government dated March 1824.

I have the honor to report for the information of Government that very general and serious [in]convenience is at present experienced by the inhabitants of this town from an alleged deficiency of the copper currency having led to an attempt on the part of the sureffs [Shroffs] to lower the standard number of pice for the rupee.

19^th March 1824. Letter from Government to the Judge at Broach.

Acknowledges receipt of letter and refers him to their earlier letter which stated that 5000 pice would be sent from the Southern Concan.

21^st April 1824 [18]. Letter from the Collector in the Southern Concan (Mr Dunlop) to Government.

In acknowledgement of your letter of 10^th March 1824, directing me to consign five thousand rupees of pice to the Collector of Broach, I have the honor to acquaint you that the quantity ordered have been shipped on board the hired Pattaman Durya Dowlut for Bombay, where I request they may be transferred to some other vessel, as the Pattaman, when at Surat, with the consignment formerly ordered to that place was found (from the sharpness of her bottom) unsafe in situations where she is liable to take the ground in a strong current.

19^th April 1824. Letter from Government to the Superintendent of Marine.

I am directed by the Honble the Governor in Council to request that you allot a vessel for the receipt of copper pice to the value of five thousand rupees, which has been received from the Southern Concan for the purpose of being consigned to Broach.

The vessel which brought the pice from the Coast, was found on a former occasion unsafe from the sharpness of her bottom in situations where she is liable to take the ground in a strong current.

1^st March 1826 [19]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the First Assistant to the Collector in charge of Broach to Government, dated 1^st March 1826.

Accompanying is an application from the Chokseers of this town, requesting a supply of copper pice which I have the honor to hand up for the orders of Government.

From Molehund Bhugwan and 4 others to the Assistant to the Collector of Broach dated 27^th February 1826.

Your petitioners, [names], having petitioned Mr Boyd some time ago to procure pice for us and his having done so, your petitioners are again desirous of obtaining about three or four thousand rupees pice more. By complying with the above request your petitioners will ever pray.

22^nd March 1826 [20]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the Judge at Broach to Government dated 7^th March 1826.

I have the honor to report for the information of Government that very general and serious inconvenience is at present experienced by the inhabitants of this town, from an alleged deficiency of the copper currency having led to an attempt on the part of the surafs to lower the standard number of pice fixed for the rupee.

The preceding letter is ordered to lie for consideration till the mint committee report on the Collector’s representation referred to them under the date the 11^th instant.

12^th April 1826 [21]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the Mint Committee to Government dated 27^th March 1826.

We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 11^th instant referring to us the copies of the letters from the first Assistant in charge of the Broach Collectorship dated the 1^st instant with enclosure, and from the Judge at Surat of the 7^th instant, representing the want of copper pice at those stations and desiring our opinion on the resources that should be adopted in consequence.

In reply we request you will have the goodness to represent to the Honorable the Governor in Council that as the last consignment of copper pice from the Southern Concan, to Broach, in 1824, for to that we concur the Broach petition must refer, appears to have answered so well, and as there is still a very considerable surplus of the same currencies in the treasuries of the former Collectorship, we beg to recommend that Mr More be directed forthwith to consign a further amount of rupees five thousand in aid of the wants of Broach to be issued under the same conditions.

Letter to the Collector in the Southern Concan from Government dated 11^th April 1826.

I am directed by the Honble the Governor in Council to request you will as early as practicable consign to the Collector of Broach from the surplus in your treasury, copper pice to the amount of five thousand rupees and to the Collector at Surat the amount of 10,000 rupees.

Letter from the first Assistant to the Collector at Broach from Government, dated 11^th April 1826.

I am directed by the Honble the Governor in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 1^st ultimo and to inform you that the Collector in the South Concan has been instructed to consign to you copper pice to the amount of five thousand rupees to be issued at the rate of 64 pice per rupee as were those formerly supplied to Broach.

19^th April 1826 [22]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the First Assistant Collector in charge of Broach to Government, dated 12^th April 1826.

Adverting to my letter bearing date 1^st March last, handing up the translate of a petition from the Choksees of this town, I have the honor to request you will reply thereto as early as you can make it convenient, as I have had several other petitions from these people on the same subject, whom I cannot satisfy until I receive the orders of Government.

From Government to the First Assistant Collector in charge of Broach, dated 18^th April 1826.

I am directed by the Honorable the Governor in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 12^th instant and to refer you to mine of the 11^th advising of a consignment of copper pice from the Southern Concan.

The Collector in the Southern Concan has been instructed to hasten the dispatch.

3^rd May 1826 [23]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the Collector in the Southern Concan to Government, dated 2^nd May 1826.

In compliance with your instructions dated the 11^th ultimo, I have the honor to inform you that copper pice to the amount of rupees fifteen thousand, packed in 61 boxes have been dispatched from the Concan and are now in the harbour on board the hired putteman Dina Doulat.

As this vessel is not calculated for the Surat or Broach rivers, I request that instructions may be issued for transhipping this treasure and conveying it in other vessels.

56 boxes containing each Rs 250 Rs 14000

5 Boxes containing each Rs 200 Rs 1000

-----------

Rs 15000

Letter to the Acting Sub-Treasurer from Government, dated 2^nd May 1826.

I am directed by the Honble the Governor in Council to inform you that 61 boxes containing copper pice to the amount of rupees 15,000 have been consigned from the Southern Concan and are now on board the Collector’s putteman in the harbour. Of these, 20 boxes containing rupees 5000 worth are to be forwarded to the Collector of Broach and the remainder, amounting to rupees 10,000 to the Collector of Surat. You will accordingly be pleased to adopt the necessary measures for that purpose, applying to the superintendent of marine for the necessary vessels which he has been instructed to provide.

Letter to the Superintendent of Marine from Government, dated 2^nd May 1826.

I am directed by the Honble the Governor in Council to inform you that the Acting sub-Treasurer has been directed to consign 20 boxes of copper pice to Broach and 41 to Surat and to request you will provide the necessary vessels for their conveyance. The pice are at present on board a pataman in the harbour from which they must be transhipped.

14^th February 1827 [24]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the Acting Collector of Broach to Government dated 27^th January 1827.

Accompanying is an application with its translate from the Nana Wutters of this town soliciting a supply of copper pice which I have the honor to hand up for the orders of Government.

There then follows a short petition dated 27^th January 1827 asking for pice.

Letter to the Acting Assistant Collector in charge of the Southern Concan from Government, dated 8^th February 1827.

In reference to Mr secretary Farish’s letter of the 11^th April last, I am directed by the Honble the Governor in Council to request you will report whether you can supply any and what further quantity of copper pice for the zillah of Broach.

28^th February 1827 [25]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the Acting First Assistant Collector at Southern Concan to Government, dated 12^th February 1827.

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 8^th instant and in reply beg leave to inform you that copper pice to the amount of five thousand rupees can be spared for the supply of the Broach zillah.

Reply dated 26^th February 1827.

Instructing him to send the pice to Broach.

21^st March 1827 [26]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the Collector in the Southern Concan to Government dated 9^th March 1827.

In compliance with the instructions contained in your letter of the 26^th ultimo I have the honour to forward by hired pattamar Dunadewlub, copper pice to the amount of five thousand Chinchore rupees packed in twenty boxes. As this vessel is not calculated for the navigation of the Broach River, I beg that the sub treasurer may be directed to receive the copper pice and consign them to the collector at Broach in another vessel.

Letter to the Acting Collector at Broach dated 20^th March 1827.

Telling him that the pice are on the way.

Letter to the Acting Sub Treasurer, dated 20^th March 1827.

Instructs him to arrange transhipment of the pice.

16^th May 1827 [27]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the third Assistant to the Collector of Broach to Government dated 4^th May 1827.

The quantity of copper pice lately consigned to this office by the Collector of the Southern Concan not being sufficient for the use of this zillah, I have the honor to solicit that a further supply of the same to the value of fifteen thousand rupees may be consigned to this Collectorate as soon as practicable.

This is forwarded to the Mint Committee on 15^th May 1827

6^th June 1827 [28]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the Mint Committee to Government, dated 19^th May 1827.

We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15^th instant forwarding copy of one from the Assistant Collector in charge of Broach representing that the want of a further supply of copper is felt in that zillah.

We beg leave to recommend that a further consignment to the amount applied for be made by the Collector in the Southern Concan, but should it be impracticable to do so until after the rains and the Assistant Collector at Broach be of opinion that the delay would be attended with any material public inconvenience, we see no objection to the coinage of copper to the extent required being undertaken on the spot, on the principles laid down in the Mint Committee’s report of the 12^th June 21, 1821.

Letter to the Collector of Broach, the Mint Committee and the Accountant General from Government, dated 31^st May 1827.

With reference to your third assistant’s letter bearing date the 4^th instant applying for a further supply of copper pice, I am directed to inform you that as it is too late to forward a supply from the Southern Concan, the Honble the Governor in Council authorizes you undertaking a coinage of copper pice to the extent applied for on the principles laid down in the Mint Committee’s report of the 12^th June 1821, copy of which is enclosed.

16^th April 1828 [29]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from the First Assistant in Charge of Broach to Government, dated 26^th March 1828.

No tenders for the coinage of copper pice having been received in consequence of the proclamation issued under the orders of Government dated the 31^st May last, I have the honor to request that a supply from the Southern Concan to the extent of rupees (30,000) thirty thousand may be consigned to this collectorate as soon as possible, great inconvenience being at present experienced throughout this zillah in consequence of the scarcity of pice.

Letter from Government to the first Assistant in Charge of Broach, dated 11^th April 1828.

I am directed by the Honorable the Governor in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26^th ultimo and to authorize you to undertake a copper coinage (as no pice can be spared from the Concan) to an extent not exceeding rupees 10,000 at the public expense reporting the results as to profit or loss as early as possible.

I am at the same time instructed to suggest that the wants of the town of Broach may perhaps be aided by your calling in a supply of copper pice from the districts.

1^st April 1829 [30]. Bombay Consultations.

From the Collector of Broach to Government, dated 5^th March 1829.

He has struck copper coins to the value of Rs 10,000 and request permission to strike a further 10,000.

15^th April 1829 [31]. Bombay Consultations.

The extra 10,000 rupees worth of pice is authorised on 14^th March 1829.

17^th March 1830 [32]. Letter from the first Assistant to the Collector at Broach, to Government dated 9^th February 1830.

With reference to Mr Secretary Williamson’s letter dated the 14^th of April last, authorizing this department to undertake a copper coinage at this station to the extent of ten thousand rupees, I have the honor to forward a statement showing the transactions of the mint established for the above mentioned purpose, and to acquaint you, for the information the Honble the Governor in Council, that the amount of the net profit to Government on the coinage was rupees eight hundred and seventy nine, three quarters and forty one reas.

The quantity of pice coined is still insufficient for the use of this zillah, and a great inconvenience is experienced owing to the scarcity. I beg leave therefore that I may be authorized to undertake a further coinage to the amount of twenty thousand rupees.

There then follows a statement of the costs of coining for 1829.

25^th February 1830. Letter to the Mint Master from Government.

Forwards the above letter for his opinion and report.

5^th March 1830. Letter from the Mint Master to Government.

He acknowledges the receipt of the above letter then goes on:

During the last three years copper has been coined at Broach to the amount of 35,000 rupees as shown in the margin,

[1827, May 31^st sanctioned 15,000

1828, April 14^th sanctioned 10,000

1829 April 11^th sanctioned 10,000]

but from the Assistant Collectors observation, that there is great inconvenience experienced in the district owing to the scarcity of copper currency, it is presumed that an addition to the supply in circulation is required.

He then goes on to say that the need can be met by the new mint at Bombay within 12 months, but if it is needed before, then the coinage should be undertaken at Broach.

3^rd March 1830. Letter from Hawkins (at the new mint) to Farish (the Mint Master).

Hawkins states that it will be some time before copper can be struck in the new mint.

12^th March 1830. Letter from Government to the First Assistant Collector at Broach.

The Assistant to the Collector is informed that unless the need for copper coin is urgent, it should be met from the new mint at Bombay.

21^st April 1830 [33]. Letter from the First Assistant Principal Collector at Broach to Government.

He states that the very urgent demand for copper has compelled him to undertake a coinage to meet the present needs. However, he still needs another 25,000 rupees worth.

16^th April 1830. Letter to the Principal Collector of Surat from Government.

Government approves of the action taken and will send 25,000 rupees worth of pice as soon as possible.

16^th April 1830. Letter from Government to the Mint Master.

Request that 25,000 rupees worth of pice should be sent to Broach as soon as possible.

17^th April 1830 [34]. Letter from the Mint Master (James Farish) to Government.

I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date directing me to consign as speedily as possible copper pice to the value of rupees twenty five thousand to meet the wants of the sub-collectorate of Broach.

Referring to my letter of the 5^th ultimo, in which it was suggested that if the copper currency was urgently required, it would be desirable to authorize the Collector of Broach to undertake the coinage he proposed, I request you will have the goodness to submit to the Honble the Governor in Council the expediency of adopting that course under the circumstances, as it will not be practicable to supply the new currency until after the monsoon.

24^th April 1830. Letter from Government to Farish.

I am directed by the Honble the Governor in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated the 17^th instant and to inform you that the suggestion contained in the 2^nd paragraph has been adopted.

I am instructed however, on this occasion to express the regret of the Honorable the Governor in Council, that the new mint is not yet able to supply the urgent wants of this Presidency for copper currency, issues of which, Government has always understood, would take place much sooner than those of silver.

24^th April 1830. Letter from Government to the Principal Collector of Surat.

In reference to the 2^nd paragraph of my letter dated the 16^th instant, I am directed to inform you that as the quantity of copper pice therein alluded to, cannot be supplied from the Presidency, the Honorable the Governor in Council is pleased to authorize you to undertake the copper coinage to the extent of rupees twenty five thousand to meet the want of the sub-collectorate of Broach.

16^th February 1831 [35]. Bombay Consultations.

Letter from Government to the Principal Collector of Surat, dated 14^th February 1831.

In transmitting the annexed extract from a letter received from the Mint Master dated the 9^th instant, I am instructed to convey the directions of the Honourable the Governor in Council that you suspend the operations of the Broach mint and report the amount of copper and what supply is still required.