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1/2 Fanam - Alamgir II Karpa Mint
| Issuer | Mughal Empire |
|---|---|
| Year | 1750-1769 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1/2 Fanam (1/8) |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Blank reverse with no inscriptions, devices, or decorative elements. The flan surface shows the characteristic granular texture resulting from the hammered striking technique employed at the Karpa mint, typical of small Mughal fanam denominations of this period. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Plain |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Alamgir II was a puppet emperor from the moment of his accession in 1754, real power held by the wazir Imad-ul-Mulk, who ultimately had him murdered in 1759. The Karpa mint, operating in what is now coastal Andhra Pradesh, continued striking in his name through the reign's full nominal span regardless — a reminder of how detached peripheral minting operations had become from actual imperial authority by the mid-eighteenth century.
At 0.18 g, the fanam denomination reflects South Indian monetary tradition absorbed into Mughal administration rather than anything originating from the imperial heartland. These tiny gold pieces circulated alongside East India Company currency in the Coromandel Coast trade economy.