The Puddester Collection (Part I)

East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta Mint: Introduction of Steam, gold Pattern Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1830], unsigned, naming Murshidabad, 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], no cluster of pellets in centre, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], crescent mint-mark at top left, edge grained left, 26mm, 10.92g/12h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens –; KM. –; F –). Minor marks on edge, otherwise brilliant and virtually as struck, most attractive and believed the only known specimen £4,000-£5,000

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

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Collection

H.M. Lingford (Bishop Auckland, UK) Collection [from Baldwin (London) November 1948], ticket
Bt Baldwin (London) August 1986, envelope in the hand of Fred Pridmore.

Owner’s ticket and envelope.

This intriguing coin, of relatively light weight (perhaps immaterial if a trial or pattern) couples the left-grained edge of the 1825 issues with the new crescent mint-mark, introduced in 1830.

The new Calcutta mint, utilising steam-powered machinery supplied by Boulton, Watt & Co and shipped to India in 1823, began striking coins in 1830, alongside the old mint, whose activities were phased out by 1832