Summary

1 Rupee, Issued by Bombay Presidency, India, 1823-1824
In the name of Shah Alam
Minted by Calcutta Mint (although named as Surat)

Note:The complete impression of the dies on the coins

Obverse Description

Legend in Persian script, (legend translation: The auspicious coin of the Victorious Emperor Shah Alam, 1215)

Reverse Description

Julus formula legend in Persian script, (legend translation: Struck at Surat in the 46th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity)

Edge Description

Milled

Significance

The Bombay mint was unable to fill all orders for rupees in 1824 and ordered 3,000,000 rupees (30 Lacs) from the mint at Calcutta. The Calcutta mint had more modern machinery and produced rupees with the full legend and milled edge. The type is copied from the Bombay Surat rupee and contains a number of anomalies: The mint name is given as Surat although that mint was closed in 1815; the the AH date 1215 commenced on 25 May 1800; the 46th julus year commenced 29 July 1803 and the Emperor Shah Alam died in 1806. The coins were struck between 1824 and 1825 with the 'frozen' names and dates being employed for commercial reasons - to stop money-changers dropping the value of old coins when new ones were issued. Similar coins to this were struck at Bombay from 1832 when its machinery had been upgraded, the Bombay coins had no edge milling.

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