Here are few coins issued under Madras Presidency by 'East India Company' These silver rupees were issued at Arcot mint and show British mint mark 'Open Lotus' for this mint. Silver rupee (In name of Mughal king Alamgir II) Another rupee dated regnal year 6 (In name of Mughal king Alamgir II) Regards Ballabh Garg
After regnal year 6, 'East India Company' stopped minting those crude rupees and started issuing machine struck silver coins. Silver two annas dated AH 1172 (Arcot mint, closed lotus) Half rupee dated AH 1176 (Arcot mint, open lotus) One rupee dated AH 1172 (Arcot mint, open lotus) Regards Ballabh Garg
Ballabh,those are very nice coins. The Moghuls only ever had Emperors as their monarchs,not kings. Eventually,I will have to get at least 1 of these coins. Aidan.
Nice examples from the Arcot mint! Here's a few madras presidency coins that I have: 1/8th rupee minted at Calcutta (rose instead of lotus) KM424 1/4 rupee minted at calcutta (rose) KM425 1803 V cash KM315 1803 X cash KM319 1803 XX cash KM321. A well worn example. Compare it with the 1808 example salvaged from the wreck of the Admiral Gardner (below) 1808 XX cash KM322 from the `Admiral Gardner'.
Here's an Arcot (lotus) 1/4 rupee minted in 1823 during the Madras presidency but bearing a crown counterstamp on the obverse, designating it for use in Ceylon
This is very nice and extremely rare counterstamp Madras Presidency coin. Thanks for sharing this with us. Regards Ballabh Garg
I understand what you mean. But the history tells us that after Aurenzab, the mughal empire was lost to local rulers and then later to British and other European traders. In 1717 when the mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar signed the treaty for 'East India Company' to do the trade in his empire, that was the end of mughal empire. After that, every mughal monarchs was bounded within red-fort in Delhi and were ruling only Delhi and some surrounding areas. So most of the later mughal monarchs were like kings and not emperors (as they already lost the "Empire of Hindostan" long before) Regards Ballabh Garg
Here are few cash/pagoda system coins issued under Madras Presideency. All these coins were minted by using Mexican 8 Reales, 4 Reales and minor silver coins as planchet and sometime the host Mexican design is visible on these under magnification. Silver 2 Fanams (AD 1808) Silver 5 Fanams (AD 1808) Quarter Pagoda (AD 1808, on a Mexican 4 Reales coin) Half Pagoda (AD 1808, on a Mexican 8 Reales coin) Regards Ballabh Garg
Again, VERY nice coins indeed. I've never actually seen either the 1/4 or 1/2 pagoda in the flesh. They aren't exactly `common' here in the UK. Ian
Ballabh,have you looked closely at those Madras Presidency coins closely in the areas of both the pagoda & the Gopurram on the 1/4 & 1/2 Pagoda coins,& at the styles of lettering on the 2 & 5 Fanams? Aidan.
Sure I have looked them while trying to identify the varieties and under-type identification. Is there anything specific I need to look for in areas where gopuram is struck? Regards, Ballabh Garg
Ballabh,it is the number of stars in the field on both sides of the pagoda.I thought the Gopuram was the figure on the obverse. There is a variety in the 1/2 Pagoda that has the denomination spelt incorrectly as 'HALF PGODA'. Have you ever seen the 1/2 Dub & 1 Dub coins that is inscribed 'Struck at Machhlipatanbandar' in Persian,which was struck in AH1175-1222? I have got a 1/96 Rupee (1/2 Dub) dated 1794,but unfortunately,I can't read the inscription on the edge,because it is so worn. Aidan.
Yes, the one which I have posted is a 18 stars variety. And I think you are little confused with the word pagoda. It's NOT the structure visible on coin. It's the currency system in that region. And the structure on the coin is called 'Gopuram'. The human figure visible on reverse is a depiction of Lord Vishnu. I have few other varieties of this coin but don't have access to those right now. On these 1/96 and 1/48 rupee coins, the edge inscription was written in incused letters and those letters were the first which worn off after some circulation. These were the coins which circulated in that region on day to day transaction. I will check if I have one here and will try to scan it. Regards Ballabh Garg
