Madras Mint – Early Coinages – South Indian System – Gold, Pagoda c1678 to c1740

The design of the pagoda was changed in about 1678, the most outstanding feature being the adoption of a granulated reverse. Like the earlier issue, the attribution of the correct design to the English mint at Madras, is difficult [1]. The illustration in Pridmore is a copy of the Dutch Negapatam pagoda, struck from 1747 onwards. The illustration here, provided by Jan Lingen, is believed to be the EIC issue.

Many forgeries occur, often in brass, and some examples are illustrated in the catalogue.

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[1] Madras Consultations, January 1689. Government Press Madras, 1916, p. 8.

‘Mr Thomas Wavell former Mint Master having some remains of gold being 12 Copangs by him being uncoin’d, and Mr Higginson having now ye charge thereof, he is ordered to coyn them.’

See also p. 33-34, 45, 48, 53, 64, 69 (accounts), 91, 99, 100.