Summary
1/8 Anna, Issued by, Bengal, India, 1780-1784
Princeps contract coinage
Minted by Falta (or Fulta)
Obverse Description
Legend in Persian script (translation: Emperor Shah Alam 1195)
Reverse Description
Legend in Persian script (translation: Struck in the 22nd year of his reign)
Edge Description
Plain
Significance
A Calcutta merchant, John Princeps, was awarded a contract by the Bengal Government in 1780 to strike copper coins which were to replace cowrie shells then in popular use. Princeps had the coins struck at his private mint in the village of Falta (or Fulta) south of Calcutta. Four denominations were struck: half, quarter, eighth and sixteenth Anna. This denomination was also called Neem Faloos and was worth 40 Cowrie shells. Production began in 1781 and ended in 1784 when his mint closed.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from (Estate of) Mr Erich Wodak, John Gartner, 24 Jan 1983
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Date Issued
1780-1784 AD
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Issued By
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Mint
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Denomination
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Series
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Material
Copper
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Axis
06
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
18 mm (Outside Diameter), 3.22 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
Pridmore 198 KM#123
[Book] Pridmore, Fred. 1975. The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations, Part 4, India. 1., 204 and 245 Pages
[Book] Bruce, Colin R. 2007. Standard Catalogue of World Coins 1701 - 1800.
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Keywords
British Commonwealth Coins, British Commonwealth and Empire Coins
