Summary

1 Rupee, Issued by East India Company, Bengal, India, 1202 AH Year 19 (frozen)
Minted by Calcutta (no private marks)

Struck between 1792 and 1793. Complete impression of the die.

Obverse Description

Persian couplet (translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad. Shah Alam. Emperor. Shadow of the devine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes 1202)

Reverse Description

Julus formula legend (translation: Struck at the Murshidabad mint in the year 19 of his reign of tranquil prosperity)

Edge Description

Milled ///

Significance

In 1790 new presses based on a screw thread were introduced replacing the old hand hammered method of production. This issue is from the second rupee production after the new technology arrived after production difficulties related to dies and blank manufacture were overcome. The new presses permitted the entire design of the coin to appear, earlier rupees showed only varied, roughly central, portions of the die. The dates on this coin, 1202 19 san, both were frozen and do not relate to the date that the coin was produced. This was done as local money changers used to make a charge, called batta, on old coins when new dates appeared. The coins are referred to as perpetual 19 san sicca. Use of the hijri date, 1202, was discontinued after this coin issue but the 19 san remained until 1834. The use of the mint name Murshidabad was also frozen on all EIC mints in the Bengal Presidency at this time.

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