The first pattern for the proposed new rupee was submitted to the Mint
Committee on
[1]
Bengal Consultations. IOR P/162/49, 5th May 1834, No1.
From Calcutta Mint Committee to Government,
dated 15th April 1834.
In the letter which we had the honor to
address to your honor in Council on 8th February, on the subject of
the dies prepared at the Calcutta mint for the Bombay new copper currency, we
stated that we had acceded to a proposition made to us by the Assay Master that
Kasinath, the engraver, should be allowed to try his skill in engraving on
steel a master die of His Majesty’s head as a specimen of the capabilities of a
native artist to conduct this important branch of the mint processes, should it
be determined to effect a reform of the device of our Indian coin and to
substitute a pictorial representation for the present Persian inscription.
Mr James Prinsep has now laid before us the
accompanying specimen coin, the obverse and reverse of which have both been
executed by Kasinath. From some unfortunate imperfection in the steel, the die
of the King’s head cracked in the process of hardening, for which of course the
engraver is not answerable. This accident has not only injured the appearance
of the device, but has prevented the possibility of polishing the face of the
die. Nevertheless the design is not so far disfigured as to prevent a tolerable
judgement being formed of the style of Kasinath’s execution, and the fidelity
of his copy from the English sovereign given as a master.
We have sanctioned the payment of 400
rupees, the sum previously stipulated, as a remuneration to Kasinath for the
labour of executing the two dies.
Mr Prinsep founds several propositions upon
the result of this experiment, which have been set forth at such length in the
notes submitted by him to our Committee that, considering the Government to be
already in possession of our sentiments on most of the questions embraced, we
think it unnecessary to trouble your Honor in Council with more than a brief
recapitulation of the important points which we are desirous of once more
bringing under the deliberation of the Supreme Government.
We think that the present experiment has
fully established the competency of a native die engraver to execute the reform
of the dies, whereas hitherto it has been assumed to be indispensable to defer
any attempt to effect this object until an European artist should be obtained
from England.
We recommend the appointment of Kasinath as
head die engraver on a suitable salary and with such assistance as may be found
necessary in order that he may prepare matrices of various dies for the
approval of Government…..
[2]
Bengal Consultations. IOR P/162/83, 24th May 1834, No 28
Letter from Calcutta Mint Committee to
Saunders (Mint Master), dated
I am directed by the Mint Committee to
forward the accompanying copy of a letter from the secretary to Government in
the General and Financial Department communicating the sanction of Government
to the payment of 400 rupees for the dies lately executed by Kasinath, which
you are accordingly authorized to disburse.
You will perceive also that you are
permitted to engage Kasinath as head engraver on a salary of 250 rupees per
month with 50 rupees for workmen, tools and printing presses.
As soon as you may have arranged the
accommodation of the new engraver in the mint, the committee direct me to
request that you will set him to work in preparing matrices for the proposed
reform of the coinage.
[3]
Bengal Consultations. IOR P/162/49, 5th May 1834. No 4
Note III from Prinsep, attached to a letter from the Calcutta Mint
Committee to Government, dated 15th April 1834.
…I have now the honor to submit the result of the experiment with equal
confidence that the artist’s labours will be found to merit the Committee’s
approbation.
The obverse of the model coin now presented is a facsimile of the King’s
head on the English sovereign with the legend Gulielmus IIII G.G. Britanniarum Rex F.D.
I could not procure a double sovereign nor a half crown of His Present
Majesty, either of which would have been preferable in size for the die of the
rupee.
The reverse consists of a wreath of laurel copied on a reduced scale
from a very beautiful model [medal?] die in the possession of Captain Forbes…