The Puddester Collection (Part I)

East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Patna (Azimabad) Mint: First milled issue, silver Proof or Specimen Rupee in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1793-4], type 2, 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], central dot in right side group of pellets, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], edge grained right, 11.66g/12h (cf. Prid. 155 [secret mark attributed to Dacca: Sale, lot 609]; Stevens 5.33; cf. KM. 99.4). A superb coin, virtually as struck and retaining considerable mint brilliance, toned, exceptionally rare [certified and graded NGC MS 64] £2,000-£3,000

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

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Collection

Taisei/Baldwin/Gillio Auction 24 (Singapore), 27 February 1997, lot 660, label.

Owner’s ticket and envelope.

With the decision in 1790 to introduce machinery into the presidency’s mints, Robert Blake was appointed assay master at Patna and coining commenced in January 1793