The Puddester Collection (Part I)

East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Patna (Azimabad) Mint: post-1765 issues, silver Nazarana Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), early style, 1182h, yr 10 [September 1767-May 1768], 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], rev. zarb azimabad sanah 10 julus maimanat manus [struck at Azimabad in the 10th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], trisul at left, 11.60g/8h (cf. Prid. 108 [type not in Sale]; Stevens –; KM. –). A stunning and exquisite coin on a broad flan, extremely fine and dark-toned, exceptionally rare, perhaps no other Nazaranas of this date known [certified and graded NGC MS 63]
£4,000-£5,000

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

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Collection

K. Wiggins Collection, Baldwin Auction 25 (London), 8 May 2001, lot 595, ticket, describing the coin as ‘possibly proof’.

Owner’s ticket and envelope.

Other Nazarana rupees are known from Patna dated 1174h year 2 (Todywalla Auction 44, lot 497, ex ‘Diana’ lot 1071) and, to a different style, dated 1183h year 11 (Ashmolean Museum: Stevens 5.27a). In describing this coin the owner writes: ‘Patna produced some outstanding clean coinage when not forced to emulate Calcutta and Murshidabad. The calligraphy and its uncluttered nature...both point to a beautiful piece of art’