2016-10-06 Thu

This gold mohur was issued in Bengal presidency during company’s rule in 1769 AD.

Minted in the name of Shah Alam II, this Gold Mohur is one of the earliest known British Gold coin from Bengal presidency of Azimabad Mint. The obverse depicts king’s name and title with couplet below and reverse feature with the regnal year (10) and trident mint mark.

But do you Know the principal mint of East India Company was at Akbarnagar and company found it difficult to use the bullion coin for the local use? Until 1757 AD Mughal mints which was controlled by the Nawab of Bengal who was also the provincial governor of Mughal emperor. The coins were struck in Mughal type of coinage which was used by the company. But when British expanded further into Bengal area many other mints were established.

During these events in 1771 AD, when 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.

This coin is unique, as it is few of the last of its mintage and in extremely fine condition it was sold at hammer price of INR 10, 00,000 at Todywalla auctions on 3rd Feb 2016 in Mumbai.