The Puddester Collection (Part I)

East India Company, Bengal Presidency, A jeweller’s copy of a post-1761 Murshidabad gold Quarter-Mohur, 1202h, yr 19, edge hand-grained right, 2.86g/12h (Mitchiner IMT –). Very fine, unusual and very rare £300-£400

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

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Collection

Taisei/Baldwin/Gillio Auction 24 (Singapore), 27 February 1997, lot 642, recté jeweller’s copy, label.

Owner’s envelope.

It is clear from the style of the calligraphy (cf. Prid. 44) that this is not an official issue.

The most prolific period for issuing the following group of Murshidabad-style copies, sometimes termed ‘medals’, was from the 1830s to the late 1860s. Early pieces, mostly characterised by the inclusion of the 1202h date, were straight copies of the Company’s Bengal issues, but by the 1840s the identity of the issuing jeweller, sometimes the city where he was based, and even his local bazaar, is included. Jewellers were registered by their local authority, which levied taxes on them to pay for civic upkeep. After the Moghul-style coins were withdrawn from circulation in 1878 the fashion for associated jewellery declined and by the time of the Durbar in 1911 production had virtually ceased. This section (Lots 860-903) is arranged according to Michael Mitchiner, Indian Medals, Tokens, Pictorial Plaques and Pendants circa 1800 to 2010. Where relevant, Pridmore numbers are also given