Summary

1 Rupee, Issued by East India Company, Bengal, India, Year 19 (frozen)
Minted by Calcutta Mint, Privy mark: S

Obverse Description

Persian legend without a hijri date (translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad. Shah Alam. Emperor. Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes)

Reverse Description

Julus formula with mark S near left rim (translation: Struck at Murshidabad in the 19 year of his tranquil prosperity)

Edge Description

Milled (vertical)

Significance

This issue was authorised under Regulation XIV 1818, effective from 1 January 1819. As part of an ongoing move to produce a uniform currency, the weight of the 19 san sicca was increased. The change was marked by the introduction of vertical milling on the edge of the coins and, on the rupee, a five-pointed star below the Persian letters 'Bad' near the rim at 9 o'clock on the obverse. All coins of this issue were minted at Calcutta which retained it's mint mark of a small dot above the two beads to left of centre on the first line of the legend. The mark 'S' on the reverse may indicate George Saunders, Master of the Calcutta mint 1816-1830, Pridmore suggests it may signify the first striking of the new standard in 1819 but found no documentation to support the proposal.

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