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Sale 108
Lot 1183
India, EIC, Bengal Presidency. Silver Pattern ½-Rupee, in the name of Shah Alam II, Pulta Mint [Princep’s Coinage] AH 1198, year 26, edge dot and arrow repeated, 5.76g (Pridmore 348, though not traced at the time of publication; Pridmore Sale, lot 675, this coin; Stevens 2017, 3.3). Extremely Fine and of the highest rarity. Estimate Value $10,000 - UP
Ex David Fore Collection, Baldwin’s Auction 82, 31 May 2013, lot 891. Ex Pridmore Sale, Glendinings 1981, lot 675.
Entrepreneur John Princeps secured copper mining rights in Bihar and a coining contract to mint copper currency for the EIC. Authorities in London strongly objected that any individual should have been awarded these rights and put extreme pressure on John Princeps to resign his contracts. Princeps refused to bow to the pressure but was persuaded by a large sum of money instead. After receiving his compensation he applied to work as mint master for the Calcutta Mint even without a salary, this time to provide the company with gold and silver coinage. His application was refused but the present coin is the exceptionally rare ½-Rupee from the series of silver patterns he produced to demonstrate his credentials while applying for that position. It was presumably acquired by Fred Pridmore after his books were published but before his collection was sold.
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