Moneta's Temple and Gallery

India - Kuka Executions

Moneta — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 19:12:36 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: India 5 Rupees - Commemorative issue for 150th Year of the Kuka Movement (1857-2007). The coin depicts the executions by hanging and cannon blast of Sikhs involved in resistance against British rule. Obverse: Ashoka Lion capitol, denomination below Lettering: भारत INDIA सत्यमेव जयते ₹ 5 Reverse: 150 years of Kuka movement with bust of Satguru Ram Singh Ji Lettering: कूका आंदोलन के 150 वर्ष 150 YEARS OF KUKA MOVEMENT 1857-2007 सतगुरू राम सिंह जी SATGURU RAM SINGH JI There's an interesting story to the history involved in this coin - see below. READ or DOWNLOAD my article at this: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/India_Kuka_Movement.pdf

India - BOMBAY PRESIDENCY Pice 1794 - Boulton Collection Cert.

Moneta — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 19:11:42 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: BOMBAY PRESIDENCY: Bronze pice, 1794, KM-193, East India Company balemark / scale, with 'adl beneath scale pans, pattern struck by the Soho Mint, Birmingham, NGC graded PF65 BR, ex Matthew Boulton collection (so marked on NGC holder card). Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) founded the Soho Mint in Birmingham, together with James Watt, in 1788, and produced many types of tokens and medals until the mint was sold at auction to Ralph Heaton II, whereafter it was known as the Heaton Mint or the Birmingham mint. Boulton and Watt assembled a small numismatic collection, including some of the Soho Mint products, which remained in their respective families until 2002, after which some were sold. This is an early product of the Industrial Revolution in that it was struck using steam powered minting equipment. This piece was acquired by Civitas Galleries from the Boulton family in April 2012. Accompanied with a letter from William J. McKivor that explains the history of this piece (dated 14 April 2012). Purchased (and text above from) at Steven Album auction (#16, Lot 1292, May 2013) for $725. I lucked onto a second life for Bill McKivor's web site (thanks to the CCTC!) that showed the many pieces he obtained from the Boulton Family that had been in the family since striking at Soho. This coin is pictured there, photographed by a professional and appears lighter in color, go there at this: https://ctcc.info/legacy/mckivor/history/bw_photos3.htm READ & DOWNLOAD: an article about the Bombay mint, old and new, and the involvement of the Matthew Boulton SOHO mint of Birmingham, Great Britain at this: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/Boulton%20and%20the%20Bombay%20Mint.pdf

India - Cooch Behar

Moneta — Sat, 17 May 2014 20:28:02 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Indian Feudatory State of Cooch Behar, minted between 1633-1665 during the reign of Maharaja Prana Narayan. The obverse inscription in devanagari script reads SRI SRI SHIVA CHARANA KAMALA MADHU KARASYA The reverse inscription, also in devanagari characters, reads SRI SRI PRANA NARAYANA BHUPASYA Insofar as the dies used to strike these coins were generally larger than the flans, only partial inscriptions are visible on each coin. This coin is similar to example number 45 pictured in The Coinage of Cooch Behar, by Nicholas Rhodes and Shankar Bose. Indian Feudatory State of Cooch Behar. Sold to me as a half Rupee of Maharaja Prana Narayan (1633 - 1665) but my exam of KM would indicate it's probably issued under Rupa Narayan (1695 - 1715). In any case I acquired it to illustrate the type of coin used to model the Bhutan series on. This may be written in 'devanagari' script. VIEW & DOWNLOAD an article on the history of Cooch Behar: Narayana of Cooch Behar: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/Narayana_Cooch%20Behar.pdf

India - British, Bengal Presidency

Moneta — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 12:09:59 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: 1/2 Anna - OB Inscription: Persian Shah Alam II Badshah, couplet; Rx insscription: Persian-julus (formula) and mint name (Falta).

British India 1840 Rupee

Chinacash — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:32:16 -0500

by: Chinacash

Description: East India Company Rupee dated 1840 but struck from 1850-1862. Krause Type II obverse - divided legend Reverse has large diamonds and 28 berries on wreath. As far as i can tell, it is KM# 458.2 Calcutta Mint Diam: 30.6mm Weight: 11.6g

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Madras Presidency 1/48 Rupee - 1794

Moneta — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:38:20 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: Matthew Boulton was contracted to strike these for the East India Company in July of 1794 at his fully steam driven mint in Soho. Boulton thought the ideal coin would have wide raised rims with incused lettering, devices, and a lettered edge. This would discourage counterfeiting and produce a coin with long lasting qualities. While he was experimenting with a gold coin (?) his first product with this concept was his English Trade (Conder) token for Daniel Eccleston (see link below). In this design, by engraver Noel-Alexandre Ponthon, he went a bit further and had the obverse legend partly incuse and partly in relief making for a unique and beautiful coin. This 'cartwheel' concept was later (1797) adopted for the famous and official British one & two pence of George III. Boulton reserved most of the rest of 1794 to producing the 1/48 Rupee and the smaller 1/96 Rupee. These odd denominations were an attempt to make these coins fit into an assortment of local coinage mediums at that time. In all 4,616,129 of the larger denomination (34 to the pound) and 9,102,868 of the smaller (68 to the pound) were minted for 1794. Another, slightly larger, issue of this design was made for 1797. Despite the mintage figures these coins are scarce in nice condition and very scarce in this NGC Proof 64 virtually blemish free encapsulation. I've used the Heritage photo because I will not be able to duplicate their results. Now that I have it in hand the coins appears bronzed with a darker tone with obvious proof surfaces, much better that the photo! Obverse incuse legend is "AUSPICIO REGIS ET SENATUS ANGLIAE" which translates from the Latin as "Under the Auspices of the King and Senate of England." The edge lettering (incuse) is "ENGLISH UNITED EAST INDIA COMPANY", with the 'EN' in English too weak to discern. This coin sold for a total of $934 at the Heritage Pre-Long Beach sale #3005 of 5/28/09, Lot#21396. READ & DOWNLOAD: an article about the Bombay mint, old and new, and the involvement of the Matthew Boulton SOHO mint of Birmingham, Great Britain at this: http://www.moneta-coins.com/library/Boulton%20and%20the%20Bombay%20Mint.pdf For the D. Eccleston piece see: http://www.moneta-coins.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=771&cat=664 For examples of the British 'Cartwheel' pence: http://www.moneta-coins.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=285&cat=584

India - Madras Presidency

Moneta — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:24:31 -0400

by: Moneta

Description: British India - Madras Presidency; for the East India Company. The first of these were contracted in 1802 and dated 1803. This is a proof issue with some impairment but original with nice surfaces - scarce. Presentation pieces in proof were also struck in silver, gilt gold & gold. This is an issue of the Soho Mint, Birmingham England by Matthew Boulton (his son to be exact). The twenty Cash pieces were struck at 36 to the pound. East India Company issue, from the wreck of the Admiral Gardner. The Admiral Gardner was on her sixth voyage to the East as a regular East India Company vessel, and commanded by William Eastfield, when she was wrecked off South Foreland on the Goodwin Sands on 25 January 1809. She was carrying 54 tons of specially minted 10 & 20 cash copper coinage struck at the Soho Mint, Birmingham.

1 comment

British India Rupee-1878

Moneta — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:42:41 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: Victorian gothic design. This series and year have varieties, the exact variety of this example has not yet been determined. I do think that it is the proof-like restrike however.

British India Rupee-1945

Moneta — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:32:34 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: Small second, King George VI, head type with large rim decoration. Legend: "GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR." This year's issue comes in a large '5' and small '5' variety with the large being much scarcer than the small. I'll assume this one is small, any comments?

British India 1/4 Anna

Moneta — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 20:22:11 -0500

by: Moneta

Description: Nice example of a gothic look Victoria. Nice even red coloration. I'll take a close look and update the mint but I suspect it is (c) - Calcutta.