The Puddester Collection (Part I)

East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Pulta Mint: Prinsep’s coinage, silver Pattern Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1198h, yr 26 [March-November 1784], naming Murshidabad, unsigned, sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl ilah hami din muhammad shah alam badshah 1198 [defender of the religion of muhammad, Shah ‘Alam emperor, shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, 1198], rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 26 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 26th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge united east india company J784, 6-point mullet punctuation, 27mm, 11.32g/6h (Prid. 347, recté 27mm [not in Sale]; Stevens 3.2, recté 27mm; KM. Pn8). Virtually as struck and attractively toned, an exceptional coin of the highest rarity, perhaps only two or three specimens known [certified and graded NGC PF 63] £15,000-£20,000

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

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Collection

Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 172 [from Spink October 1989], envelope.

Owner’s ticket and envelope.

The provenance of this coin prior to 1989 is not known, but there is a possibility that it could be the same specimen included within the Montagu (lot 89), Murdoch (lot 75) and Caldecott (lot 93) collections, which was the only specimen known to James Atkins