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.

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