East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Benares Mint: Third phase, copper Trisul Pice (4), in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1228h, frozen yr 37 [1815-21], type 1 with thick letters, sanah julus 37 shah alam badshah [the 37th year of the emperor Shah ‘Alam], revs. yek pai sikka/yek pai sikka [one pai sikka], 6.45g/12h, 6.43g/12h, 6.37g/12h (Prid. 309 [Sale, lot 654]; Stevens 7.186; KM. 27.1); similar, but raised rim, 6.45g/12h (Prid. 309 [Sale, lot 654]; Stevens 7.187; KM. 27.1) [4]. Third very fine, others good very fine and better, first with a hint of original colour £50-£70

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

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Collection

First and second K. Wiggins Collection, Baldwin Auction 25 (London), 8 May 2001, lot 650 (part), tickets.

First and second with owner’s tickets.

Because the Yeld patterns of 1813 required copper of a different thickness, it was not until 1815 that, with further machinery installed, the new Benares trisul pice entered circulation. In 1817 pice issued from Calcutta, Farrukhabad and Benares were all declared legal tender anywhere in the presidency, although in 1836 circulation of the Benares coins, last issued in 1829, was restricted to the local area. These coins were demonetised in August 1844