The Puddester Collection (Part I)

East India Company, Bombay Presidency, Early coinages: Mughal style, silver Rupee in the name of James II (1096-1100h/1685-8), Mumbai, yr 4 [1688], sikka zad daura n-i-janishin-i-king jems di sekun [Coin of the governor-general of king James the second], rev. zarb m[umba[i sanah julus 4 angrez shahi [Struck at Mumbai in the 4th year of English rule], 11.50g/2h (Prid. – [not in Sale]; Stevens 1.22; KM. 144). Weak in parts, small test mark on reverse and punchmarked on edge, otherwise very fine and exceptionally rare, very few specimens known
£3,000-£4,000

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

View
Collection

Bt R.C. Senior (India) 1984.

Owner’s ticket and envelope.

Efforts by the Council in Bombay and the Court of Directors in London to obtain permission from successive Moghul emperors to strike Moghul-style coins at Bombay, bearing the name of the reigning English monarch, were proving unsuccessful. Undeterred, and probably with tacit approval from the monarch, Bombay coined some silver bearing the name of James II, but the continuation of this practise in the early 1690s, under William and Mary, incurred the wrath of Aurangzeb Alamgir when the newswriters in Surat advised him that rupees were circulating there bearing the names of English monarchs. The Council continued to authorise the minting of these silver coins until at least 1694, but the practise appears to have ceased by 1696