Summary

1 Pice, Issued by Bombay Presidency, India, 1804
Minted by Soho Mint, Birmingham, England

Obverse Description

Arms of British East India Company; around above, EAST INDIA COMPANY; below, 1804

Reverse Description

A pair of balanced scales; between pans the Persian Adil (translation: Just); below, the date in Persian numerals 1219

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

The Master and Assay Master of the Bombay Mint wrote on 12 December 1802 "It is not only very Expensive to Coin Copper in this Country, but it is impossible with the present Machinery to do it well. It is harder than Silver or Gold & the Natives work it with less perfection. On this account it is Certainly desirable to have the Copper Money sent hither from England." The Soho Mint in Birmingham was approached to undertake a further production in 1804 to the same weight standard as their 1791 pieces. For the first time Bombay coins bore the arms of the Company. By 1817 these coins had become hard to find in circulation.

More Information