India 1835 to 1840 – William IV – Rupee Pattern 1835 Bombay

 

When Bombay received the matrix dies for the new rupee at the end of 1835 [1], the mint establishment encountered many problems whilst trying to multiply them. The Bombay mint authorities therefore decided to engrave their own dies and specimens were submitted to the Mint Committee on 24th December 1836.  However, the Bombay Government did not feel empowered to authorise the use of these dies and when permission was requested from Calcutta it was refused.

The initials, MD, were placed on the truncation of the neck and this has been interpreted to mean Merlen Designer. However, an alternative possibility is that these initials represent the surnames of the Mint Engraver, F. McGillivray and the Mint Master, B. Doveton

 


[1] Bengal Consultations. IOR P/162/86, October 1835, No 24

Letter from the Bombay Mint Committee to Bombay Government, dated 11th September 1835

We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th instant, directing us to take measures for regulating the coinage of this Presidency according to the provisions of Act XVII of 1835, passed by the legislative council of India.

We request you will inform the Right Honorable the Governor General in Council that the mint is at present engaged on the copper currency and that the annual importations of bullion may be expected so that the most convenient time, for recommencing to coin silver, will probably be, as was the case last season, the beginning of January. To prevent delay therefore the matrices for the new silver coinage ought to be received here from Bengal not later than the 1st December, so as to enable the mint to have all arrangements complete by the time mentioned. All other preparations will be duly attended to.

This letter was duly passed to the Calcutta Mint Committee.