The Puddester Collection (Part I)

East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Calcutta and Murshidabad mints: post-1771 issues, silver Half-Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), 1185h, yr 11 [1771-2 inferred], 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], crescent at left, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 11 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 11th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], privy mark arrangement 4/3, 5.76g/9h (cf. Prid. 119 [Sale, lot 595]; cf. Stevens 2.139; KM. 83.2). Numerous shroff marks on the edge, good fine and toned, extremely rare [certified and graded NGC VF Details: Shroff Marked Edge] £300-£400

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

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Collection

F. Pridmore Collection, Part II, Glendining Auction (London), 18-19 October 1982, lot 595, date given as 1184, ticket
Sir John Wheeler Collection, Baldwin Auction 22 (London), 2 May 2000, lot 152, date given as 1184.

Owner’s ticket.

What remains of the last digit of the hegira date suggests a figure 5, rather than a 4; perhaps a die-sinker’s error as a year 11 coin would normally be dated 1183 or 1184h