Sunday, February 6, 2011

MADRAS PRESIDENCY ARCAT NAWAB COINS

Madras Presidency, also known as Madras Province and known officially as Presidency of Fort St. George, was a province of British India with capital at Madras ( now known as Chennai) and included many parts of south India :-
* Tamilnadu
* Kerala : Malabar region
* Lakshadweep
* Andhra Pradesh : Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema
* Karnataka : Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Bellary districts


After India's independence in 1947, Madras Presidency was reconstituted as Madras State. In 1953 the Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions became the new state of Andhra, and Bellary district became part of Mysore State . In 1956, South Kanara district was transferred to Mysore, the Malabar Coast districts became part of the new state of Kerala , and Madras state, renamed Tamilnadu in 1968 , took its present shape. The northern district of Madras presidency, Ganjam, was transferred to Orissa
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                                 The earliest coins of the company in Madras were small silver pieces issued from their factory at Fort St. George in about 1670's. These coins were undated with two interlinked C's on the reverse (assigned to the reign of King Charles II).

During the 18th century silver coins were minted bearing the Company's bale mark(an orb and a cross) inscribed C.C.E (Charter Company of England) and in some cases G.C.E (Governor and company of merchants trading into the east Indies). All these issues were meant for use within the company's factory and surrounding areas and also for exchange with European traders. They were not meant for circulation in the interior of the country.

In 1742 company obtained permission from Nawab Sadatulla Khan of the Subah of Arcot to coin rupees in imitation of those struck at the imperial mint at Arcat. These coins were poorly struck with dies bigger than the blanks used. Hence, only a part of inscriptions are generally visible. They bear the name of Alamgir II with Sixth year of reign and have a 'lotus - mint mark'. This undated series continued for about 50 years. Subsequent issues had Hegira Date '1172' equivalent to 1758 A.D. irrespective of the year of minting. The R.Y-6 also appears on all issues.




SOME OF MY HAND MADRAS PRESIDENCY COINS 

ONE RUPEE ARCAT NAWAB SILVER LOTUS MARK COIN



ONE FANAM SILVER (VISHNU FANAM) COIN



                              

                         In 1807 new machinery was introduced and mint produced 2 silver coin in European style with oblique milling. One series based on Hindu standard consisted of One and Two pagoda in gold, Half and Quarter pagoda and Fanams in silver. The copper coins consisted on Cash denominations.


The other series based on moghul standard were gold mohurs and fractions of mohurs : ¼, and ½ . They issued rupees together with fractions down to ⅛ and 116 rupee in silver. Madras also issued 2 rupees coins. Although minted in 1807 and later all bear the frozen date "1172"A.H.
Copper coins in this series were Faluce(Dub) with inscriptions in persian on one side and Tamil and Telugu inscriptions on the other side indicating the value in Dub units.
In Madras, there were copper coins for 2, 4 pies, 1, 2 and 4 paisa, with the first two denominated as ½ and 1 dub or 1
96 and 148 rupee. Madras also issued the Madras Fanam until 1815.

Although the two systems of coins were in circulation at the same time but they were unrelated.

3360 Cash = 42 Fanams = 1 Pagoda =31/2 Rupees = 168 Faluce (Dub)

1 Rupee = 48 Faluce (Dub)

1 Faluce (Dub) = 20 Cash; 1 Fanam = 4 Faluce(Dub) = 80 Cash

After 1818, Rupee was made the standard coin and the weight was fixed at 180 grains with smaller pieces in proportion. The pagodas and fanams were demonetized from that year.

Next issues were :-

1. 1812-1835 : Struck at Madras Mint with 'Lotus' mint mark and indented cord milling.

2. 1823-1825 : Struck at Calcutta with 'Rose' mint mark and upright milling.

3. 1830-1835 : Struck at Calcutta with 'Rose' mint mark and upright milling but with a small crescent added on the reverse (rupee and half rupee coins) and on obverse(1/4 rupee coins).

SOME OF MY COLLECTIONS



ONE RUPEE ARCAT NAWAB MADRAS PERSIDENCY SILVER COINS LOTUS MINT MARK 




ONE RUPEE ARCAT NAWAB MADRAS PERSIDENCY SILVER COINS ROSE MINT MARK



1/8TH RUPEE ARCAT NAWAB MADRAS PERSIDENCY SILVER COINS ROSE MINT MARK



1/16TH RUPEE ARCAT NAWAB MADRAS PERSIDENCY SILVER COINS ROSE MINT MARK



1/16TH RUPEE ARCAT NAWAB MADRAS PERSIDENCY SILVER COINS LOTUS MINT MARK



ABOVE IMAGES ARE FROM MY PERSONAL COLLECTIONS




PORTUGUESE INDIA COINS

The Portuguese were the first people who thought to establish their territorial dominion in India. After obtaining the approval letter from the Zamorin, the Raja of Calicut, the trade between India and Portugal began. Establishing the trade and commercial relation with India had given rise to the thought of establishing their supremacy in the eastern seas. With the indulgence of political intrigues in the Indian states, the Portuguese succeeded in establishing their settlements at Diu, Daman, Salsette, Bassein, Chaul and Bombay on the west coast, San Thome near Madras and Hooghly in Bengal. They also extended their authority over the major part of Ceylon. Later due the Portuguese lost most of their territories and by the end of the eighteenth century only Diu, Daman and Goa were in their dominion.


SOME OF MY PORTUGUESE INDIA COINS

PORTUGUESE INDIA 30 REIS OR HALF TANGA COIN



PORTUGUESE INDIA COIN ATIA YEAR 1768 



PORTUGUESE INDIA SIX REIS COIN



PORTUGUESE INDIA BAZARUCO YEAR 1698 COIN



THE ABOVE GIVEN IMAGES ARE FROM MY OWN COLLECTIONS