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Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Gold, Pagoda c1643

Crude representation of a Hindu deity	Blank

Official Weight (g)

3.45

Actual Weight (g)

3.42

Actual Diameter (mm)

11.0-14.0

Composition

Gold

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.1	√ 1.	1	Ste, RJ	Very difficult to determine the type of this crude coin, since pagodas of this type were issued by other authorities. See photos for other examples.	RR

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

This was the standard gold coin of the EIC for many years. Easily confused with Dutch pagodas

A standing deity holding a sword in his left hand and surrounded by various symbols.	Granulated

Official Weight (g)

3.45

Actual Weight (g)

3.36-3.42

Actual Diameter (mm)

11.0-11.5

Composition

Gold

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Status	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.2	√ 2.	2	Currency	Ste, Harish Purani	Single, standing figure of Vishnu. See photos for one with a flat reverse (maybe St 1.1?)	R
-	√ 3.		Brass Forgery	Ste	Very crude single standing figure. 2.18g	NR
-	√ 4.		Brass Forgery	Ste	Very good design of single standing figure. 2.97g	NR

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Gold, Three Swami Pagoda 1691 to 1806

Three standing figures, each with a star above their head.	Granulated

	Pagoda	Half Pagoda	Quarter Pagoda
Official Weight (g)	3.43	1.71	0.85
Actual Weight (g)	3.43-3.46	1.68	0.85
Actual Diameter (mm)	11.2-13.0	10	8
Composition	Gold

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Obv	Date Issued	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.3	√ 5.	3A	Pagoda	A	c1691-1740	Ste, Noon, Oswal	Full figures	R
1.4	√ 6.	3B	Pagoda	B	1740-1806	Ste, Noon	Half figures	C
1.5	7.	4	Half Pagoda	A	c1691-1740		BM. Possibly jeweller’s copy	RRR
1.6	8.	5	Quarter Pagoda	A	”		BM. Possibly jeweller’s copy	RRR

Obverse Varieties

Size of Figures

The complete figures may be visible or only half

	A	B
Size of Figures	Full	Half

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Gold Ālamgīr, Pagoda 1692 to 1707

niṣār bādshāh ‘ālamgīr (= The gift of the Emperor ‘Ālamgīr).		ẓarb chīnāpatan (= Struck at Chīnāpatan)

Official Weight (g)

2.98

Actual Weight (g)

2.98-2.99

Actual Diameter (mm)

10.8-11.3

Composition

Gold

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	AH	RY	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.7	√ 9.	6	1103	35	Bhandare	Ref: BM	RRR
1.8	10.	-	1111	?		Ref: BM.	RRR
1.9	√ 11.	7	1113	47	Ste	AH may be 1114	RRR

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Gold, MM Pagoda 1730 to 1735

Indicative Picture – No specimen available A single standing deity with the letter M on each side.	Indicative Picture – No specimen available Granulated

Official Weight (g)

3.41?

Actual Weight (g)

?

Actual Diameter (mm)

~11.5?

Composition

Gold

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.10	12	8		Not traced	NR

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Gold, Star Pagoda 1740 to 1806

Half a standing figure with dots on each side.	A Star surrounded by dotted circles.

Actual Weight (g)

3.32-3.40

Actual Diameter (mm)

10.0-12.7

Composition

Gold

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Obv	Rev	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.11	√ 13.	9	A	I	Ste, Elsen		N
1.12	√ 14.	-	A	II	Ste, Noon	Ref: Wiggins.	S
-	√ 15.	10	-	-	Ste	Forged 'star' Pagoda in brass?	NR
1.13	√ 15c.	-	C	III	HC, RJ, Zeno	Ref: Hemanth Chopra Full figure on obverse. Small star on reverse looks very different from usual. Perhaps a local copy?	R

Obverse Varieties

Design

The design may vary. Normally only part of the figure of Vishnu is visible, but sometimes the whole figure visible. Forgeries have all sorts of crude figures.

	A	C
Design	Normal	Full figure

Reverse Varieties

Star within

The star is normally held within a circle of dots. Sometimes the dots are arranged in the shape of a pentagon rather than a circle. On ‘full figure’ coins the star is much smaller.

	I	II	III
Star within	Circle	Pentagon	Small Star

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Gold, Fanam c1643 to 1693

A single standing deity (Vishnu) within a beaded border	Not deciphered.

Official Weight (g)

?

Actual Weight (g)

0.27

Actual Diameter (mm)

7

Composition

Gold

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.14	√ 16.	11	Ste	None traced. Many South Indian gold fanams that resemble this design exist. See Photo for example.	NR

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Silver Fanam (Trial Strike, 1688?)

Pridmore (p. 18-19) shows an extract from the Consultations discussing the difficulty of preparing the dies for the silver fanams because of the complexity of the design and the agreement to revert to a simpler design. This coin may be an example of the more complex design.

Full standing figure of Vishnu within a beaded border. Around this is a Telugu inscription	Two interlinked Cs within a plain border. All surrounded by a Telugu inscription within a beaded border.

Actual Weight (g)

1.27

Actual Diameter (mm)

Composition

Silver

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Provenance	Comments	Rarity
1.14C	√ 16c.	-	Fanam?	PC	The status of this piece is not known (ie. Is it an early trial for the fanam coinage, a pattern for the early coins or a currency issue with very low mintage) or should it come later in the series?	RRR

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Silver, Two, One & Half Fanams 1689

Full standing figure of Vishnu within a beaded border	Two interlinked Cs the ends of one separated by the figure 1. Within a beaded border.

	Double Fanam	Fanam	Half Fanam
Official Weight (g)	2.46	1.23	0.62
Actual Weight (g)	?	0.89-1.24	-
Actual Diameter (mm)	~12	8.5-10.3	~8
Composition	Silver

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.15	17.	12	Double fanam		Two strokes between the ends of the C. Private collection.	RRR
1.16	√ 18.	13	Single fanam	Ste, RJ, Marudhar, Bombay		RR
1.16A	√ 18c.	-	”	Ste, RJ, Noon	Crude figure	RR
1.17	19.	14	Half fanam		None traced	NR

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Silver, Fanam et infra 1690 to 1763

Full standing figure of Vishnu, within a beaded border.	Two interlinked Cs, with one, two or three dots. Surrounded by a beaded border.

	Double Fanam	Fanam	Half Fanam
Official Weight (g)	2.07	1.03	0.51
Actual Weight (g)	1.89-2.08	1.00-1.05	0.48
Actual Diameter (mm)	9.1-11.3	7.8-9.4	7.1-7.9
Composition	Silver

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Obv	Rev	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.18	√ 20.	15	Double fanam	A	I	Ste	Three dots on reverse.	S
1.19	√ 21.	-	”	A	II	Bombay, HC, KD Coins, Noon	Two dots on Reverse. Usually only one visible.	S
1.20	√ 22.	-	”	B	II	Ste	Same weight but cruder design (as later issue). Only one dot visible on specimens examined but could be two on specimens showing full die impression.	R
1.21	√ 23.	16	Single fanam	A	III	Ste	One dot on reverse.	S
1.22	√ 24.		”	A	IV	Noon	Two dots on reverse. One in centre and one between ends of C. Reported by Wiggins.	S
1.23	√ 26.	17	Half fanam	A	?	RJ (HC), Archie Maru	The ANS apparently has one, Ref: 1973.56.1232	NR

Obverse Varieties

Size of Figure

Normally a full figure is visible. On some coins the figure differs and is only partially visible.

	A	B
Size of Figure	Full	Partial

Reverse Varieties

Dots	There may be three, two or one dots visible

	I	II	III	IV
Dots	Three	Two. Between ends of each C	One	Two. One in centre & one between ends of C

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Silver, Two & One Fanams 1764 to 1806

Partial standing figure of Vishnu (crude compared with 1st & 2nd issues). Within a beaded border.	Two interlinked Cs, one end separated by a dot, which is often not visible. Surrounded by a beaded border.

	Double Fanam	Single Fanam	Half Fanam
Official Weight (g)	1.83	0.91
Actual Weight (g)	1.65-1.88	0.80-0.96	0.52
Actual Diameter (mm)	7.4-11.1	7.0-7.9	~7
Composition	Silver

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.24	√ 27.	18	Double fanam	Ste, Noon		C
1.25	√ 28.	19	Single fanam	Ste, Noon		C
1.25C	√ 28c.	-	Half fanam	Scott Semans	Wt ~0.5g. Not certain if this is a half or a very light single fanam	NR

Double Fanam Example showing bead on Reverse	Double Fanam Example showing beaded border on Obverse	Double Fanam Example showing beaded border on Reverse

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Copper, Ten Cash (Dudu) 1691 to 1754

Balemark with GCE within a decorative stroke border	Date between wavy lines within a beaded circle

Official Weight (g)

8.85

Actual Weight (g)

7.66-8.79

Actual Diameter (mm)

13.7-22.0

Composition

Copper

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Date	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.26	√ 29.	20	1691	RJ	Manchester Museum	RRR
1.27	√ 30.	21	1693	Ste		RRR
1.28	√ 31.	22	1695	Ste, Noon		R
1.28C	√ 31c.	-	1700	HC		RRR
1.29	√ 32.	24	1702	Ste, Noon		R
1.30	√ 33.	25	1703	Ste		RR
1.31	√ 34.	28	1704	Ste, Noon	4 shaped like y. Could be 9. Example in BM.	RR
1.32	35.	26	1705		Noble sale 48, lot 1986 (1995). Not examined	RR
1.33	√ 36.	27	1706	Ste, Noon		R
1.34	√ 37.	29	1716	Noon		RR
1.35	38.	30	1720		Ashmolean museum	RRR
1.36	√ 39.	31	1721	Ste	Manchester Museum. ANS	RR
1.37	√ 40.	32	1722	Ste, Noon		S
1.38	41.	33	1725		Not examined.	NR
1.39	√ 42.	34	1726	Ste		RR
1.40	√ 43.	35	1728		See photo from Jan Lingen	RRR
1.41	44.	36	1731		None traced, Recorded from Pridmore.	NR
1.42	√ 45.	37	1739	Ste but last numeral missing, Noon		RR
1.43	√ 46.	38	1741	Jay Raiveeson		RR
1.44	√ 47.	39	1744	Ste, Noon		R
1.45	48.	40	1745		Not examined	NR

See also Fort St David mint for dudus struck 1748-1752

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Copper, Ten Cash (Dudu) 1755 to 1806

Balemark containing GCE within a wavy line circle.	Date between wavy lines and within a circle.

Official Weight (g)

6.30

Actual Weight (g)

5.06-6.36

Actual Diameter (mm)

11.9-19.0

Composition

Copper

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Date	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.46	√ 49.	45	1755	Ste, Noon		S
1.47	√ 50.	46	1756	Ste, Noon		S
1.48	√ 50c.	-	1758	RJ	Ref: Baldwin, sale 84, lot 2021 (but no photo).	RR
1.49	√ 51.	47	1761	Ste, Noon		S
1.50	52.	48	1765		Ref: Wiggins.	RR
1.51	√ 53.	49	1768	Ste		S
1.52	√ 54.	50	1769	Ste, Noon		S
1.53	√ 55.	51	1774	Ste		RR
1.54	√ 56.	-	1776	Noon		RRR
1.55	√ 57.	52	1777	Ste, Noon	Ref: Wiggins, Puddester.	R
1.56	√ 58.	-	1778?	Noon	Could be 178x. See photos	RRR
1.57	59.	53	1780		Ref: Snartt (1980). SCMB pp. 279-280.	RRR
1.58	√ 60.	54	1784	Ste, Noon		S
1.59	√ 61.	55	1786	Ste, Noon		S
1.60	62.	56	1787		None traced. Recorded from Pridmore.	NR
1.61	63.	57	1788		None traced. Recorded from Pridmore.	NR
1.62	√ 64.	58	1789	Ste, Noon	Ref: Wiggins.	RR
1.63	65.	59	1790		None traced. Recorded from Pridmore.	NR
1.63C	√ 65c.	-	1791	RJ	Date not certain but likely.	R
1.64	√ 66.	60	1795	Craig, Oswal		R
1.65	√ 67.	61	1796	Ste	Ref: Snartt (1980). SCMB pp. 279-280.	R
1.66	68.	62	1798		None traced. Recorded from Pridmore.	NR
1.67	√ 69.	63	1800	Ste, Noon		R
1.68	√ 70.	64	1801	Ste, Noon		S
1.69	71.	65	1806		None traced. Recorded from Pridmore.	NR

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Copper, Five Cash (Half Dudu) 1691 to 1754

Balemark with GCE within a beaded border.	Date in one or two lines within a plain raised circle.

Official Weight (g)

4.43

Actual Weight (g)

3.46-4.22

Actual Diameter (mm)

12.1-15.5

Metal

Copper

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Date	Rev	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.70	√ 72.	66	1691	I	Ste, Noon		RRR
1.71	73.	67	1699	I		Not traced. Recorded from Pridmore.	NR
1.72	√ 74.	23&68	1700	II	Ste	Date in one line.	RRR
1.73	√ 75.	69	1702	I	RJ		NR
1.74	√ 76.	70	1705	I	Ste, Noon	NB shape of 5 shown in photo above	RR
1.75	77.	-	1706	I		Ref: Lingen	RRR
1.76	78.	71	1720	I		Not traced. Recorded from Pridmore	NR
1.76C	√ 78c.	-	1721	I	Jay Raiveeson		NR
1.77	79.	-	1722 or 1723	I		Ref: Lingen. Date not clear	RRR
1.78	√ 80.	72	1726	I	Ste		RR
1.79	81.	73	1737	I		Not traced. Recorded from Pridmore	NR
1.80	√ 82.	74	1739	I	Ste	Ref: Wiggins	RRR
1.81	83.	75	1742	I		Not traced. Recorded from Pridmore	NR
1.81C	√ 83c.	-	1746	I	SA		NR

Reverse Varieties

Date	The date may be in one line, or split between two lines.

	I	II
Date	Two lines	One Line

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Copper, Five Cash (Half Dudu) 1755 to 1806

Balemark with GCE within a beaded border.	Date in two lines

Official Weight (g)

3.15

Actual Weight (g)

2.65-3.14

Actual Diameter (mm)

10.5-13.6

Composition

Copper

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Date	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.82	√ 84.	76	1755	Ste, Noon		R
1.83	85.	-	1757		Ref: Thompson.	RRR
1.84	86.	77	1758		Not traced. Recorded from Pridmore.	NR
1.85	√ 87.	78	1761	Ste	Ref: Wiggins.	RRR
1.86	√ 88.	79	1768	Ste	Ref: Wiggins.	RRR
1.87	89.	-	1776		Manchester Museum.	RRR
1.88	√ 90.	80	1777	Ste, Bombay		RRR
1.89	91.	-	1778		Manchester Museum.	RRR
1.90	92.	-	1781		Ref: Wiggins.	RRR
1.91	√ 93.	81	1784	Ste, Noon		RR
1.92	√ 94.	82	1785	Noon	Ref: Wiggins. Is this really 1785 or 1781? See photos	RRR
1.93	√ 95.	83	1786	Ste, Noon		R
1.94	96.	84	1790		Not traced. Recorded from Pridmore.	NR
1.95	√ 97.	85	1791	Ste, Noon	Ref: Puddester.	RR
1.96	98.	86	1802		Not traced. Recorded from Pridmore.	NR
1.97	99.	87	1804		Not traced. Recorded from Pridmore.	NR

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Copper, Cash – 1660 to 1678

Outline of the balemark of the Company.	Telugu inscription. Translation Sri Ranga. A title of the Vijayanagar empire.

Official Weight (g)

0.53

Actual Weight (g)

0.36-0.70

Actual Diameter (mm)

5.7-7.4

Composition

Copper

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Rev	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.98	√ 101.	89	I	Ste, RJ	Reverse often difficult to distinguish.	RRR
1.99	√ 102.	90	II	Ste		RRR

Varieties exist without the lower bar in the balemark. See ANS website.

Reverse Varieties

Telugu Inscription

May be Normal or a Variety with the letters of the legend in the wrong order.

	I	II
Telugu Inscription	Normal	Variety

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Copper, Great Cash et infra – 1678 to 1680

A new style of cash coin was issued in 1678 with a weight of 9.11 troy grains. There appear to be three denominations.

Balemark within a dotted circle.	Telugu inscription. Sri Ranga in two lines . Possibly a royal title.

	Treble Cash	Double Cash	Cash
Official Weight (g)	1.77	?	0.59
Actual Weight (g)	1.46-1.68	1.18-1.33	0.61-0.62
Actual Diameter (mm)	8.5-9.7	9.5-10.8	7.6-10.6
Metal	Copper

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.100	√ 103.	88	Three (Great) Cash	Ste, RJ, HC	Very rare. See also ANS 1919.999.133	RRR
1.101	√ 103c.	-	Two Cash	RJ, Jay Raiveeson		RRR
1.102	√ 103e.	91	Cash	Ste,		RR

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Copper, Two Cash et infra – 1678 to 1722

Balemark with date. Surrounded by a beaded circle.	Sri Ranga. A title of the Vijayanagara empire.

	2 Cash	Cash
Official Weight (g)	1.66?	0.88
Actual Weight (g)	1.57-1.66	0.64-0.82
Actual Diameter (mm)	9.5-10.8	7.1-9.0
Metal	Copper

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Date	Obv	Rev	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.103	√ 104c.	-	Two Cash	[16]78	A	I	RJ		RR
1.104	√ 104e.	-	”	[16]78	A	II	RJ, HC		RR
1.105	√ 104.	92	Cash	[16]78	A	II	Ste, HC, RJ, Noon	See photos for one with a strangely written date	R
1.106	√ 105.	-	”	[61]87	A	?	BM, Joshy Varghese	(1678) Fitzwilliam Museum. BM. Appears to be 78 retrograde.	RRR
1.107	106.	-	”	1691	?	?		Fitzwilliam Museum.	RRR
1.108	√ 106c.	-	”	1697	C	II	RJ		RR
1.109	√ 107.	93	”	1698	B	II	HC		RR
1.110	108.	94	”	1698	B	III			RR
1.111	√ 108c.	-	”	1698	C	II	HC, RJ		RR
1.112	√ 108e.	-	”	1700	C	?	HC		RRR
1.113	√ 109.	95	”	1702	C	III	Ste, RJ, HC, Bombay		R
1.114	110.	-	”	1703				Ref: Wiggins.	RR
1.115	√ 110c.	-	”	1704	C	III	RJ, HC	Numeral 4 shaped like a Y as on 1^st issue dudus.	RR
1.116	√ 111.	96	”	1705	C	III	Ste, RJ, HC	Figure 5 same shape as on half dudu.	R
1.117	112.	-	”	1708	?	?		Fitzwilliam Museum.	RRR
1.118	√ 112c.	-	”	1722	C	III	Craig	ANS 1919.60.226.	RRR

Obverse Varieties

Design

The design may consist of a balemark with the date in the lower half and the top half empty, the date in two lines in a plain circle, or a balemark with the date divided between the top and bottom.

	A	B	C
Design	Date in lower half	No balemark	Full date in balemark

Reverse Varieties

Title

The bottom part of the title may be spelt in the correct way with the dot in the middle, or mis-spelt with the dot at the beginning.

	I	II	III
Title	No Oval	Mis-spelt	Correct

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Copper, Cash – 1725 to c1752

A heart shaped shield with a 4 on top. Triply divided. In each third is a letter E I C. A wavy line above. All within a beaded border?	Date within a dotted circle.

Official Weight (g)

1.20

Actual Weight (g)

1.07-1.95

Actual Diameter (mm)

7.4-11.0

Composition

Copper

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Date	Obv	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.119	√ 113c.	-	1725	A	Ashvita Fine Living, RJ. Raihan Khan, Lingen	Ref: Lingen	R
1.120	√ 114.	97	1731	A	Ste, HC, ClassNG, Noon	Specimens exist with a bar across the 7. See photos for one that looks as though it turned over and was struck a second time	S
1.121	√ 115.	98	1733	A	Ste, Noon	Probably the most common date.	C
1.122	√ 116.	99	1734	A	Ste, RJ		RR
1.123	√ 117.	100	1736	A	Ste, Noon, Bombay		R
1.124	√ 117c.	-	1737	A	RJ, Ste, Noon		R
1.125	√ 118.	101	1737	B	Ste		S
1.126	√ 119.	102	1739	A	Ste, RJ		RR
1.126A	√ 119b.	-	1739	B	HC, RJ		RR
1.127	√ 119c.	-	1740	A	RJ		RR

See also Fort St David mint for cash struck 1748-1752

Obverse Varieties

Letters in balemark

The letters in the balemark may be arranged clockwise or anti-clockwise.

	A	B
Letters in balemark	Clockwise	Anti-clockwise

Madras Mint – Early Coinages – Copper, Single and Half Pice – 1803 to 1807

Balemark within a plain circle	Date within a plain circle

	Pice	Half Pice
Actual Weight (g)	2.11-2.85	0.88-1.20
Actual Diameter (mm)	10.6-13.2	7.5-10.6
Composition	Copper

Catalogue

Cat No.	Photo Link	Pr. No.	Denomination	Date	Provenance	√ Comments	Rarity
1.128	√ 120.	319	Pice	1803	Ste, RJ		S
1.129	√ 120c.	-	”	1804	RJ, HC, Noon		R
1.130	√ 121.	320	”	1807	Ste, RJ, HC		R
1.131	√ 122.	321	Half Pice	1803	Ste, Noon	Correst letters in balemark	S
1.131A	√ 122c.	-	”	1803	Ste, RJ	Letters in balemark retrograde	R
1.131B	√ 122e.	-	”	8803	RJ	Date presumably an error for 1803	RR

Photo from Noonan 8^th Feb ’23 (Puddester), lot 549. Wt = 1.08g

Previously listed as a half pice dated 1808 (Ste 132) but obverse is not consistent with an EIC coin. Maybe from a local mint imitating the EIC coins?