British East India Company

Lot 2032       British East India Company

Estimate $1,200
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $3,100

MADRAS PRESIDENCY, Muhammadan system, European Style Coinage, in the name of 'Alamgir II (A.H.1167-1173, A.D. 1754-1759), issued 1817-1818, (11.65 grams), Madras mint, closed lotus type, gold rupee or mohur, impressed with the mint name Arkat, type as silver rupee with frozen date, A.H.1172, Regnal Year 6, edge with centre graining to left, (Pr. 238, KM. 418). About uncirculated and very rare.

Ex B.A. Seaby Ltd, purchased by Capt. Vivian Hewitt (1944), collection purchased by Spink & Son London 1967, acquired 1973 by private purchase with ticket and later from the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection, Noble Numismatics Sale 48 (lot 2026). A total of 59,250 were struck. The issue was authorized in September 1817 and proclaimed current in December 1817 at a rate of 15 silver rupees for one gold rupee. Because the issue was identical in size weight and design to the silver rupees the gold issue was changed to new designs in 1819. Very few of these coins appear on the market, the Pridmore specimen in 1982 (mounted and VF), and the Dr. Brent specimen in 1991 (Spink Taisei sale 9) are the only specimens noted by the cataloguer to 1995.