PREVIEW: THE PUDDESTER COLLECTION (PART II): 1 & 2 OCTOBER

When the Treasury authorised the production of the new rupee in 1859, the engraver Leonard Charles Wyon decided on a crowned Gothic-style effigy of the Queen, perhaps influenced by the numismatist Richard Sainthill (1787-1869), who had favoured using such a portrait on Indian coins as far back as 1846.

Once approved Wyon set about creating designs and striking a very small number of heavy measure or piédfort pattern rupees, completing the work in November 1860.

 

Once the designs were approved, Wyon got to work on the matrices and puncheons for the set, and these were dispatched to Calcutta in 1861. However, on arrival it was discovered that his matrices were not suitable for the mint there, leading to the creation of revised engravings using Wyon’s punches.

The final coinage was authorised in 1862 and issued from Calcutta, Bombay and Madras on 1 November that year.

This sale offers an exceptionally rare set of the original 1860-61 silver piédfort patterns from the Royal Mint in London, the Caldecott/Pridmore set, pictured here.

While the ½ rupee, ¼ rupee and two annas are dated 1861, the one rupee carries the date of 1860. None carries the Wyon signature. The obverse of the one rupee is dulled and the two annas has a small reverse rim bruise at 12 o’clock, but otherwise the set is virtually as struck, toned, and exceptionally rare.

To be sold as part of the Puddester Collection, the estimate is £20,000-26,000.