Lot 2459 – British India, gold mohur, 1841C, obverse ‘VICTORIA QUEEN,’ mint state. Estimate: £3,500-£4,500. Baldwin’s image.
LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
This auction follows on from the extremely successful sale of parts one and two of the collection, which achieved a combined hammer total in excess of £2 million. Cultivated over 35 years by a passionate collector and a dedicated numismatist, the most extensive and finest grade of British Indian coins can be found in this collection, and this closing auction is certain to draw significant international interest.
This auction presents potential buyers with a comprehensive record of Indian currency coins across several centuries. The opening section consists of a fine selection of Early Indian coins covering the Kushan, Gupta and post-medieval periods, with an extensive selection of Mughal mohurs and rupees. Continuing through to the 18th and 19th centuries there is a complete run of all dates in the British India series, as well as Bombay Presidency coins from the period 1741-1771, and a significant run of Madras pieces between 1807 and 1808.
Several attractive pieces from the Princely States, with fine examples of Awadh gold mohurs and ashrafi, are available, which are sure to entice some strong bidding. The remarkable and detailed imagery of mermaids, lions and sea creatures on the gold ashrafi pieces as in Lot 1153 will appeal to many collectors.
Lot 1268, an AH 1176 Year 4, Monghyr, is one of the most important gold mohurs in the series. The noted numismatist, Dr. Paul Stevens, has written extensively on the coins of the Bengal Presidency. In his book on the subject he discusses the events surrounding the decision by the Nawab of Bengal, Mir Kasim Ali Khan, to move his capital to Monghyr in 1761. This decision led to a dispute with British forces resulting in the 1763 capture of the Nawab’s newly established fort. The year on this coin, AH 1176, ended on July 11, 1763, only a few months before the British occupation, indicating that this piece was issued by the Nawab during this short period in Monghyr. This is a rare example, and one of the earliest known coins of the Bengal Presidency, in extremely fine condition. The coin carries a presale estimate of £4,000-£6,000.
Highlights from the British India offering include lot 2362, a William IIII silver rupee of 1840, and estimated to sell for £5,000-£8,000, and lot 2453, a stunning gold mohur of 1835 estimated at £5,000-£7,000.
This final auction promises buyers an opportunity to purchase items from what is the most complete and high-grade collection of Indian coins to come on the market in recent years. Each of the 1,400 lots on offer in this final part is of the highest quality and grade available.
The Coinex exhibition is organized by the British Numismatic Trade Association and more information can be found on their website at http://www.bnta.net.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Lot 2459 – British India, gold mohur, 1841C, obverse ‘VICTORIA QUEEN,’ mint state. Estimate: £3,500-£4,500. Baldwin’s image. Lot 1366 – Princely States, Gohad, broad-flan gold mohur, 25mm, struck by the local Jat ruler in the name of Shah ‘Alam II, AH 1188 year 16. Estimate: £3,000-£4,000. Baldwin’s image. Lot 1619 – Princely States, Mysore, Tipu sultan, silver double rupee Patan, AH 1199 year 3. Estimate: £1,500-£2,000. Baldwin’s image. Lot 2362 – British India, silver rupee mule, 1840, obverse: William IV, reverse: Victoria. Estimate: £5,000-£8,000. Baldwin’s image. Lot 2448 – British India, silver rupee, 1939B, obverse: ‘GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR,’ Estimate: £4,000-£6,000. Baldwin’s image. Lot 1117 – Princely States. Assam, Brajnatha Simha (SE 1739-1740; 1817-1818 AD), gold mohur, SK 1739, Assamese legends on both sides, rev lion running to left. Estimate: £2,000-£3,000. Baldwin’s image. Lot 1153 – Princely States, Awadh, Wajid ‘Ali Shah, Gold Ashrafi, struck at Lukhnow, mintname Mulk Awadh Bait al-Saltana Lakhnau, AH 1264 Year 2. Baldwin’s image.
