Coin - 1/2 Mohur, Madras Presidency, India, 1819

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Summary:: 1/2 Ashrafi or 1/2 Mohur (Muhr), Issued by, East India Company, Madras Presidency, India, 1819
Minted by Madras Mint
Statement Of Significance:: The East India Company obtained permission to strike Arkat style rupees from the Subah of Arkat (Arcot) in 1742. The first actual production was in 1759 in the name of Alamgir II and bear the Hegira date 1172 with the regnal year 6. Machine struck gold 1/2 rupees (valued at 7.5 silver rupees) were produced in 1817 with the same designs on obverse and reverse as the silver. Those coins were replaced in 1819 by this type, having the same standard and weight, but bearing the Company crest, because the use of the same designs on silver and gold coins of about the same size had led to the silver pieces being gilded and passed as gold.
Acquisition Information:: Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), 1976

Tagged with:	british commonwealth coins, british commonwealth and empire coins
Themes this item is part of:	Numismatics & Philately Collection
Primary Classification:	COINS
Secondary Classification:	India - Madras
Tertiary Classification:	working strikes
Series:	British India
DateEra:	1819 AD
Denomination:	1/2 Mohur
Obverse Description:	Crest of the Company; around, ENGLISH EAST INDIA COMPANY
Reverse Description:	Legend in Persian (translation: Half Ashrafi of the Honourable English Company)
Edge Description:	Milled
Shape:	round
Material:	Gold
Issued By:	East India Company, Madras Presidency, India, 1819
Mint:	Madras (Mint), India, 1819
References:	Pridmore 242 KM#420
Bibliography:	[Book], Major Fred Pridmore, The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations, Part 4, India, Spink & Son Ltd., London, 1975, 38 & 79 Pages [Book], Mr Colin Bruce - Krause Publications, Standard Catalogue of World Coins 1801 - 1900, 2006, 703 Pages