Baldwin's London Auction 71 Baldwin's London auction 71 offers a spectacular array of Indian, Islamic and Latin-American coinage. Including the Yashoda Singh Collection of Indian Coins and the Alan Harley Collection of Latin Ame
Calcutta resident and not connected with the Mint; Quarter Anna - Cossinauth (Kasinath Dass). Native note plate engraver of the General Treasury and subsequently appointed engraver to the Calcutta Mint; Pie (or 1/12 Anna) - Hurrie Mohun Roy. Native seal engraver of the General Treasury. Hurrie also engraved two matrices for the scales of the half and the quarter anna as the originals executed by Delacombe and Cossinauth gave way in multiplying…. Coins struck from these Calcutta matrices and dies are dated ½ Anna 1834; ¼ and 1/12 Anna 1833.” Concerning the matrices for the scales, a close examination of the copper proofs in the set offered here shows three different kinds of rope used to suspend the pan in the scales. Note that the 1833 copper coins could not have been made before 1834 when the dies were delivered. Also note that the AH and AD dates do not always agree. The Bombay Mint continued to strike copper coins (apparently the 1833 and 1834 coins) until 1844, when it changed over to the standard East India Company design. The new Bombay Presidency silver coins, however, were doomed. In 1835 the Bombay Mint replaced the native style silver coinage with standard East India Company designs. So the only two years in which all denominations were struck were 1834 and 1835. Accordingly this set must have been struck in 1834 to mark the first full series of coins produced by the mint or in 1835 as a way to say good bye to the old. The coins in this exceptional set are: Rupee, Dated 1215 AH and regnal year 46. On the obverse, at the right end of the center panel, is a fleur-de-lis. In the upper left, near the date, is a branch with four leaves. The meaning of these two symbols, no doubt privy marks, is unknown. One theory suggests the lis may refer to Delacombe, on the assumption that the name is French in origin. We know Delacombe engraved the dies for the Half Anna, but Pridmore doesn’t say who engraved the dies for the silver coins. Pr 287; KM 221. Silver proof, PCGS PR67; ½-Rupee, Dated 1215 AH and regnal year 46. Also with a fleur-de-lis at the right end of the center panel, but without the branch near the date. Pr 289; KM 223. Silver proof PCGS PR67+; ¼-Rupee,Dated 1215 AH and regnal year 46. Does not bear the lis or branch privy mark. Pr 291; KM 222. Silver proof PCGS PR67; ½-Anna, Dated 1834 and 1249. Pr 214; KM 251. Copper proof. PCGS PR65BN; ¼-Anna, Dated 1833 and 1249. Large letter variety. Pr 219; KM 232. Copper proof PCGS PR66RB; Pie, Dated 1833 and 1248. Pr 223; KM 261. Copper proof PCGS PR66RB. While Pridmore makes no reference to a ceremony or official occasion when such sets were prepared or presented, he does observe that “the proofs usually occur as complete sets.” This suggests that a certain quantity were prepared for presentation at some time.
