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1/2 Anna - Shah Alam II
| Issuer | Bengal Presidency |
|---|---|
| Year | 1781 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 14.54 g |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Central field displays the Persian regnal formula 'Sanat 22 Julus' — denoting the 22nd year of Shah Alam II's reign — in bold Nastaliq script. The numerals and legend are arranged prominently across the field, with star and floral ornamental devices distributed around the inscription. The design is enclosed within a raised toothed border consistent with the obverse. The strike is characteristic of the Bengal Presidency copper series produced at Calcutta for Mughal-style coinage. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Shah Alam II was the Mughal emperor who formally granted the East India Company the diwani rights of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa in 1765 — the legal instrument that transformed a trading company into a territorial revenue authority. Coins issued under his name by the Bengal Presidency carried the imperial sanction as political cover, maintaining the fiction of Mughal sovereignty long after Mughal power had effectively collapsed. The Company continued striking in his name for decades past any practical necessity.