Lot 452

East India Company, Bengal Presidency, INO Muhammad Akbar II (AH 1221-1253, 1806-1837 AD), Silver Nazarana Rupee, 11.07 gms, 21.91 mm, Dar ul Khilafat Shahjahanabad Mint (mostly visible at top on rev), with Royal Umbrella mint mark, AH 12xx, RY Ahd, Nazarana rupees are specially minted issues made for use in presentation rituals with the Emperor. After 1817, the mint at Delhi was closed for the issue of circulatory coins. It was decided to set up a mechanized mint in Delhi, which would have produced Farrukhabad rupees instead. However, in order not to hurt the feelings of the Mughal emperor, he was allowed to strike special coins only for the ritual of 'Nazar'. This was a protocol observed when a 'lesser' official was received by a 'greater' official, and a small monetary gift was given by the lesser to the greater to acknowledge the gratification of his sight. The British resident met with the king four times a year, and he (technically 'lesser') presented Nazar to the king (nominally 'higher'). This system was carried on till 1828, when the Gov-Gen forbade Europeans to give and take Nazars from any Indian officials. The practice of presenting a 'Nazar' to the Mughal king was also stopped, because he was no more considered as a 'higher' person than the representative of the Company. This meant that the issue of Nazar coins was severely curtailed and most likely, the bill was passed on to the king, which he increasingly found expensive to bear. Known specimens of Nazarana coins, though, show that they were struck for almost every year of Muhammad Akbar's reign after 1828. This specimen, dated AH 1240 corresponds roughly to 1826 AD. and therefore is a Nazarana specimen from the initial years, similar to Zeno # 376284, very fine, rare.