Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Moghul System – Silver

Rupee – Muhammad Shah 1719 to 1748 – Mint Name: Arcot

Silver coins struck by the EIC in the name of Muhammad Shah with the mint name Arkat have been the subject of many debates[1],[2],[3],[4] and identification is not yet certain.

Arkat rupees are the only coins to have the three petal lotus mark on the reverse together with the dot arrangement under the word julus. This also appears on the coins of Ahmad Shah Bahadur.

The Pridmore illustration (Pr.134) from the Panish collection shows neither the Emperor’s name, nor the date, nor the mint name. It is probably a rupee of Muhammad Shah, based on the lotus mark and the four- dot group below ‘julus’. However, other authors have suggested other possible candidates for the Arcot rupee of Muhammad Shah (see references).

The coin illustrated below, from the Fitzwilliam museum, while not containing the full date or the mint name, does contain the Emperor’s name, Muhammad Shah, thus confirming the issuance of Arcot coins, in the name of this Emperor, during the 1742-48 period.



See Stevens P., (2009), JONS 200, p52

[1][1] Cribb J (1978). The British East India Company Arkat Rupee of Muhammad Shah a Possible Candidate? SCMB 1978. Aug. p237-241.

[2] Pickering I. G. W. (1978) Letters to the Editor - Arcat Rupee.  SCMB (1978). Oct. p311

[3] Mitchiner M. (1979). The British East India Company Arkat Rupee of Muhammad Shah: A Possible Candidate. SCMB (1979). Aug. p248-255.

[4] Lingen J. (1980) Rupees with the mint name Arcat. SCMB 1980. Jan. p13-15