Lot 430

East India Company, Bengal Presidency, INO Shah Alam II (AH 1174-1221, 1759-1806 AD), Silver Rupee, 11.55 gms, 29.34 mm, Murshidabad Mint, struck at the Calcutta Mint in 1793-1794, AH 1202, RY 19, "Saya-e-fazle elah" Couplet, Oblique Milling, Obv: sikka zadbar haft kishwar sayae fazle elah, hami dine Muhammad Shah Alam Badshah, Rev: sana 19 julus and zarb Murshidabad at the bottom, This has the small central dot in the central set of dots that is considered to indicate Murshidabad on the following series, but Pridmore calls this a Calcutta mint striking. Pridmore attributed this type with its wide rims to trials that took place in 1790 ad, Stevens considers this type to be the first milled issue of Rupees for actual circulation from the Calcutta mint with wide rims, Stevens, however, favours the year 1792 AD when a trial of laminating and cutting machinery took place at the Calcutta mint as a result of which around 1000 Rupees were produced of slightly greater diameter than usual, One of the finest and most aesthetically appealing designs in the entire Rupee series, PS # 4.11, KM # 98, Pr # 154, very fine, extremely rare.

KM 106; Pridmore 153; Stevens 4.9.  ?