East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Murshidabad Mint: Second milled issue, gold Trial Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1793-1818], sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah [defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes], triangle of pellets in top line, central group of pellets with extra pellet at centre, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], wide borders with thick grained edge, edge grained right, 12.35g/12h (cf. Prid. 71 [not in Sale]; Stevens 5.2c; cf. KM. 103.2; cf. F 1537). Two small file marks on reverse edge, otherwise very fine and exceptionally rare, only one other noted by the cataloguer [certified and graded NGC AU 58] £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Puddester Collection.

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Bt in London 1988.

Two owner’s tickets and envelope.

These intriguing mohurs, with broad toothed rims and thick grained edges, at least one of which is known from Patna (Stevens 5.30; Stephen Album Auction 25, lot 1343, ex Stevens, ex Wheeler 137), replicate the style of the first milled issue rupees from Calcutta (Prid. 153). It remains a possibility that the equipment initially used at Calcutta was then moved to, or replicated in, Murshidabad and Patna; in any event, the dies for all the Bengal mints were produced at Calcutta