Summary

Pattern for 1 Rupee, proposed for Bengal, India, 1818
Minted by Calcutta

Obverse Description

At centre within a plain circle the shield of arms of the East India Company; around, * AUSPICIO REGIS ET SENATUS ANGLIAE (Translation: Under the auspices of the king and senate of England)

Reverse Description

Within an open palm wreath, CALCUTTA / RUPEE / Persian legend (Zarb Kalkatta - translation: Struck at Calcutta)

Edge Description

Milled (vertical)

Significance

As a move towards the unification of the currencies of British India, the Bengal Presidency increased the weight of it's 19 san rupee in August 1819. This pattern reflects ideas first put forward in 1806 that the EIC arms should appear on its coins. The weight of the piece is that of the pre-reform rupee of 1819 and it is believed to be a pattern for a new design to mark the weight increase as well as a test of the new vertical edge milling. In the event, the old design with new edge milling was proceeded with but an extra star was added to the obverse design to mark the increased weight. This pattern is unusual in that the name of the mint is given in Persian as well as the rupee being called a Calcutta rupee. Calcutta coins tended to be standardised issues giving other mint town names: Farrukhabad, Murshidabad etc.
Reference
Pridmore, Fred. "An East India Company Pattern Rupee of the Bengal Presidency" Seaby's Coin and Medal Bulletin, April, 1961 p.145

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