The Puddester Collection (Part I)

East India Company, Bengal Presidency, Murshidabad Mint: Second milled issue, gold Trial Mohur in the name of ‘Shah ‘Alam II (1173-1221h/1759-1806), frozen year 1202h and regnal yr 19 [1793-1818], 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], triangle of pellets in top line, central group of pellets with extra pellet at centre, rev. zarb murshidabad sanah 19 julus maimanat manus [struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity], wide borders with thick grained edge, edge grained right, 12.35g/12h (cf. Prid. 71 [not in Sale]; Stevens 5.2c; cf. KM. 103.2; cf. F 1537). Two small file marks on reverse edge, otherwise very fine and exceptionally rare, only one other noted by the cataloguer [certified and graded NGC AU 58] £3,000-£4,000

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

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Collection

Bt in London 1988.

Two owner’s tickets and envelope.

These intriguing mohurs, with broad toothed rims and thick grained edges, at least one of which is known from Patna (Stevens 5.30; Stephen Album Auction 25, lot 1343, ex Stevens, ex Wheeler 137), replicate the style of the first milled issue rupees from Calcutta (Prid. 153). It remains a possibility that the equipment initially used at Calcutta was then moved to, or replicated in, Murshidabad and Patna; in any event, the dies for all the Bengal mints were produced at Calcutta