Archive Lots

Nawabs of Surat – Silver ½ rupee in the name of Shah Alam II, RY 5(1/2/3?), 5.80 grams. The series with posthumous RYs of Shah Alam struck at Surat is intriguing. KM attributes these coins to ‘French India’ – however, the French had no interest in Surat after the takeover of the port city by the East India Company in 1800. Another suggestion is that these coins were struck unofficially by the Thakore of Bhaunagar, but good metal quality and a near-continuous run for several years make the suggestion of ‘unofficial’ copies implausible. It is more likely that they were struck by the Nawab from another mint in the city, and distinguished by the fact that they had a running RY as against British issues which had it frozen at 46.Very Fine+, Very Scarce.

Nawabs of Surat – Silver rupee in the name of Shah Alam II, Surat mint, RY8, die-slippage on reverse hence double strike, KM 724, 10.90 grams. Very Fine+, Scarce.

Tripura – Silver tanka, Amara Manikya (1577-1586 AD), citing Queen Amaravati, SE 1502, R&B T165, 10.70 grams. Obv: lion facing left, trident on the back, SE date in numbers below. Rev: Bangla legend Digbijayi Sri Sri/yutamaramani/kya Deva Sri Ama/ravati Devyau in four lines. The title ‘Digbijayi’ or ‘worldconqueror’ suggests that this type of coins were struck soon after a military victory. Very Fine+, Rare.

Awadh – Silver rupee, Shuja’a ud-Daula (1754-1775 AD), in the name of Shah Alam II, AH11XX/RY14, floral ‘trisul’ symbol on reverse, ‘sun’ in middle divide on obverse, KM 36.8, 11.10 grams. Although attributed to Awadh, it is plausible that this rupee was struck from a mint farmed to Maharaja Chet Singh, the Zamindar of Banaras. This is seen from the fact that the layout of legends and symbols on this coin is different from the issues of ‘Muhammadabad Banaras’ coins of another, much longer series. Very Fine, Scarce.

Awadh – Silver rupee, Asaf ud-Daula (1775-1797 AD), Bareli Mint, in the name of Shah Alam II, RY18, mint-mark off flan, KM # 46.2, 11.00 grams. Very Fine, Scarce.

Awadh – Asaf ud-Daula (1775-1797 AD), Silver Rupee in the name of Shah Alam II, Kora mint, RY20, Persian letter ‘Ain in Julus on reverse, a horizontal fish symbol in middle divide on the obverse, 10.80 grams. Kora became a part of Awadh after it was bought by Shuja’a ud-Daula in 1773 from the British for 50 lakh rupees, along with the province of Banaras. Very Fine, Scarce.

Nawabs of Awadh, Silver rupees in the name of Shah Alam II, Lakhnau mint, pseudo-mintname 'Muhammadabad Banaras', fixed RY26, dated AH1203 (reign of Asaf ud-Daula), AH 1215 and 1220 (reign of Sa'adat Ali), with fish and banner symbols on the reverse, KM 103.2, 11.00 grams each. (3 coins)

Awadh - Silver rupee, temp. Nawab Asaf ud-Daula (1775-1797 AD), in the name of Shah Alam II, Najibabad mint, AH (11)98/RY 25, crescent mark in middle divide on the obverse, vertical fish and letter ?Suad? on either side of the RY on reverse, M&D 4.1, 11.14 grams. Very fine, Scarce.

Awadh - Silver rupee, Ghazi ud-Din Haidar (1819-1827 AD) as king, Subah Awadh Dar al-Amarat Lakhnau mint, AH 1235/RY Ahd, K&M 7.22, 11.10 grams. Very fine, Scarce.

Awadh – Silver rupee, Ghazi al-Din Haidar (as king, 1819-1827 AD), in his own name, ‘Subah Awadh Dar al-Saltanah Lakhnau’ mint, AH 1237/RY 3, KM 165.2, 11.1 grams. Obv: Farsi couplet Sikka zad bar Seem wa Zar as Fazl Dhu’l Manan / Ala Nasb Ghazi al-Din Haidar Shah Zaman. Rev: royal coat-of-arms composed of two tigers rampant holding flags and supporting a dagger balancing the crown, on two fish; mint details above and below. Very Fine, Scarce.