Summary

2 Pice, Issued by Bombay Presidency, India, 1816
Minted by Bombay Mint

Obverse Description

Balemark of the British East India Company; around below, 1816

Reverse Description

A pair of balanced scales; between pans in Persian adil (translation: just) the legend damaged by die-flaw

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

In the 1790's copper coinage needs for Bombay were supplied from England. By 1802 these coins were becoming scarce and it was decided to copy their design but strike them locally and at reduced weights (as they would make a loss retaining the earlier standard). Authority was granted and production began almost immediately in 1802 and continued as required until 1829; although there was a further English production of copper denominations in 1804 as production of the local coins was "slow, laborious and expensive" (Pridmore p.132).

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