India, Bombay, Duncan, Stratton & Co, bronze coining trials or proving pieces (2), by Greenwood & Batley, Leeds, G&B monogram, rev. tiger, 30mm, 10.70g, 20mm, 3.12g (Bullmore, SNC 1979, p.439, nos. 5, 7; cf. DW 23, 304). First good very fine with dark patina, second very fine but obverse stained (£50-70)

The Leeds firm of Greenwood & Batley, founded in 1856, supplied coining presses and associated machinery to a number of foreign mints. In February 1905 their agents in India, Duncan, Stratton & Co of Bombay, ordered six coining presses at £275 each on behalf of H.H. The Nizam of Hyderabad’s mint. These were delivered in February 1906. The proving pieces struck from the new machinery were ostensibly to the size and weight of the rupee, half, quarter and eighth-rupee denominations; the above two pieces are of rupee and quarter-rupee size