The Puddester Collection

East India Company, Bombay Presidency, Early coinages: Mughal style, silver Quarter-Rupee in the name of Ahmad Shah (1161-7h/1748-54), Mumbai, date off flan, sikka mubarak badshah ghazi ahmad shah [The auspicious coin of the victorious emperor Ahmad Shah the valiant], rev. zarb munbai sanah [–] julus maimanat manus [Struck at Bombay in the [–] year of tranquil prosperity], 2.79g/1h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens website 2.75C, this coin [previously attributed to ‘Alamgir II as Stevens 2.91, this coin]; KM. –). Struck from Rupee dies, very fine with a clear mint name, exceptionally rare £500-£700

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

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P.J.E. Stevens Collection, Part IV, Stephen Album Auction 26 (Santa Rosa, CA), 15-17 September 2016, lot 2049.

Owner’s ticket.

This coin, which appears to be the only known specimen, was originally assigned to ‘Alamgir II by Stevens (p.230), with the caveat that it might be an issue of Ahmad Shah. A close examination of what remains of the emperor’s name on it by the cataloguer of the coin in 2016 strongly suggests that it is a coin of Ahmad Shah, for which quarter-rupees struck at Mumbai were previously unknown. A copy of the full reasoning behind the cataloguer’s opinion is sold with the coin