2022-02-15 Tue

East India Company issued gold mohur to circulate in Bengal presidency in 1769 AD. It was minted in the name of Shah Alam II. These gold coins are one of the earliest known British Gold coins from the Bengal presidency of Azimabad Mint. The obverse side of this coin depicts the king’s name and title with a couplet below and the reverse feature with the regnal year (10) and trident mintmark.

The interesting aspect of this coin is the principal mint of East India Company that was situated at Akbar Nagar. Until 1757 AD this mints which was control by the Nawab of Bengal, he was also the provincial governor of Mughal emperor. Company faced many difficulties to use the bullion coin for the local use, hence these coins were struck in Mughal type of coinage for circulation by the company to keep the similarity and avoid confusion. Later on, the British expanded further into the Bengal area and established different mints to keep up with the increasing demand.

During these events in 1771 AD, the Company stopped the old process of striking coins and established a standard coinage emanating from the mint at Calcutta. This mohur was struck under the old system of minting coins and ironically from the very city to where Shah Alam had been escorted by the British following his defeat at Battle of Buxar.

Image Courtesy: Todywalla Auction