1/4 Rupee - Shah Alam II

Historical Context: The 1830 1/4 Rupee, issued by the Bengal Presidency, exemplifies the East India Company's (EIC) advanced administrative control over its Indian territories. Although bearing the name of the deceased Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II (r. 1759-1806), this coinage represents a frozen date issue, where the EIC maintained the Mughal emperor's name as a legitimizing fiction, a common practice to avoid direct usurpation of sovereignty. By 1830, the EIC was the de facto ruler of Bengal, standardizing its currency system and consolidating its vast territorial gains, with fractional denominations like this crucial for daily commerce.

Artistry: Attribution of individual engravers for EIC coinage of this period is exceedingly rare, and no specific signatures are known for this issuer or type. The artistic style adheres to the established Mughal numismatic tradition, featuring elegant Nastaliq script for the Persian legends on both obverse and reverse. However, the execution reflects the EIC's increasing emphasis on uniformity, precision, and mass production in die-cutting. Skilled Indian artisans, often supervised by British mint masters, executed these dies, blending traditional calligraphy with European-influenced technical consistency.

Technical/Grading: For the 1/4 Rupee (KM#115), critical grading points include the sharpness and completeness of the Persian legends, particularly the frozen regnal year (often '19') and the mint epithet. Given its diminutive flan (16.3mm) and weight (3.1g), a full, even strike is paramount; weak strikes, especially on central motifs or the Gregorian date '1830' on the reverse, are common. Surface preservation, free from significant planchet flaws, scratches, or environmental damage, is also key. The .888 silver composition is typical for EIC issues of this period.