Summary

1/4 Ashrafi or 1/4 Mohur (Muhr), Issued by, East India Company, Madras Presidency, India, 1819
Minted by Madras Mint

Obverse Description

Crest of the Company; around, ENGLISH EAST INDIA COMPANY

Reverse Description

Legend in Persian (translation: Quarter Ashrafi of the Honourable English Company)

Edge Description

Milled

Significance

The East India Company obtained permission to strike Arkat style rupees from the Subah of Arkat (Arcot) in 1742. The first actual production was in 1759 in the name of Alamgir II and bear the Hegira date 1172 with the regnal year 6. Machine struck gold 1/4 rupees (valued at 3.75 silver rupees) were produced in 1817 with the same designs on obverse and reverse as the silver. Those coins were replaced in 1819 by this type, having the same standard and weight, but bearing the Company crest, because the use of the same designs on silver and gold coins of about the same size had led to the silver pieces being gilded and passed as gold.

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