The Bengal Presidency was once the largest colonial subdivision (presidency) of British India, with its seat in Calcutta, the capital of British-held territories in South Asia until AD1911. At its territorial peak in the 19th century, the presidency extended from the present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan in the west to Burma, Singapore and Penang in the east. The Governor of Bengal was concurrently the Viceroy of India for many years. Most of the presidency's territories were eventually incorporated into other British Indian provinces and crown colonies. In 1905, Bengal proper was partitioned, with Eastern Bengal and Assam headquartered in Dacca and Shillong (summer capital). British India was reorganised in AD1912 and the presidency was reunited into a single Bengali-speaking province.
The Bengal Presidency was established in AD1765, following the defeat of the last independent Nawab of Bengal at the Battle of Plassey in AD1757. Bengal was the economic, cultural and educational hub of the British Raj. It was the centre of the late 19th and early 20th century Bengali Renaissance and a hotbed of the Indian Independence Movement.
The Partition of British India resulted in Bengal's division on religious grounds, between West Bengal and East Bengal.
The Bengal Presidency was established in AD1765, following the defeat of the last independent Nawab of Bengal at the Battle of Plassey in AD1757. Bengal was the economic, cultural and educational hub of the British Raj. It was the centre of the late 19th and early 20th century Bengali Renaissance and a hotbed of the Indian Independence Movement.
The Partition of British India resulted in Bengal's division on religious grounds, between West Bengal and East Bengal.
1 Pice - Shah Alam II - KM#65
Obv : Legend in Persian:Sana julus 45 Shah Alam badshah
Translation: In the 45th year of the Emperor Shah AlamRev : Value in Persian: Yek pai sikka and Hindi: "Ek pai sicca"
یک پای سکہ
एेक पाई सीका
Translation: One pie coin
Details :
Plain edge, Farrukhabad mint, Trident (trishul) on Persian legend
KM#65
PR#336
The coins of Bengal Presidency# 8.121
1 Rupee - Shah Alam II - KM#84.2
Obv : Legend in Persian: Sikka zad bar haft kishwar saya fazl Ilah Hami ud-din Muhammad Shah Alam, Badshah (AH date)
شاه عالم بادشاهحامي دين محمد
ساى فضل لله
سكة زد بر حفت كشور
Translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah Alam Emperor Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, (AH date)
Rev : Legend in Persian: Zarb Murshidabad sanat 19 julus maimanat manus
Translation: Struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity
Details :
Plain edge, Mint name on coin Murshidabad, RY#10 to RY#15 were struck at Murshidabad but RY#19 coins (except Nazarana rupees) actually minted in Calcutta (san Sikka 19 coinage)
KM#84.2
1 Rupee - Shah Alam II - KM#40.1
Translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah Alam Emperor Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, AH1221
Rev : Legend in Persian: Zarb Muhammadabad Banaras sanat (RY#47) julus maimanat manus
Translation: Struck at Muhammadabad Banaras in the (RY#47) year of his reign of tranquil prosperity.
Details :
Plain edge, Benares mint, fish on obverse, flower on reverse mint marks.
This type of coin has 10 different types of privy (darogah) marks on obverse above the middle line
KM#40.1
1 Rupee - Shah Alam II - KM#41
Translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah Alam Emperor Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, AH1229
Rev : Legend in Persian: Zarb Muhammadabad Banaras sanat 17/RY#49 julus maimanat manus
Translation: Struck at Muhammadabad Banaras in the 17/RY#49 year of his reign of tranquil prosperity.
Details :
Plain edge, Benares mint, fish on obverse, flower on reverse mint marks.
These coins were struck between AD1812 - AD1819 and do not have privy (darogah) marks on obverse
KM#41 (Previous KM #834b)
Pr#286
1 Rupee - Shah Alam II - KM#42
Translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah Alam Emperor Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes, AH1229
Rev : Legend in Persian: Zarb Muhammadabad Banaras sanat 17/RY#49 julus maimanat manus
Translation: Struck at Muhammadabad Banaras in the 17/RY#49 year of his reign of tranquil prosperity.
Details :
Oblique milled, grained right //// edge, broad flan Benares mint, fish on obverse, flower on reverse mint marks.
These coins were struck at AD1815
KM#42 (Previous KM #774.1)
Pr#289
½ Rupee - Shah Alam II - KM#97
شاه عالم بادشاه
حامي دين محمد
ساى فضل لله
سكة زد بر حفت كشور
Translation: Defender of the Muhammadan faith, Reflection of Divine Excellence, the Emperor Shah Alam has stuck this coin to be current throughout the seven climes
Rev : Legend in Persian: Zarb Murshidabad Sanat 19 Julus Maimanat Manus
Translation: Struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his prosperous reign
Details :
Oblique milled (grained right) //// edge, Calcutta mint.
Mint name on coin Murshidabad but struck at Calcutta (No dot in any of the clusters on obverse)
Struck from AD1793 to AD1818 after AH date of 1202 was removed from coinage
KM#97
1 Rupee - Shah Alam II - KM#99
شاه عالم بادشاه
حامي دين محمد
ساى فضل لله
سكة زد بر حفت كشور
Translation: Defender of the Muhammadan faith, Reflection of Divine Excellence, the Emperor Shah Alam has stuck this coin to be current throughout the seven climes
Rev : Legend in Persian: Zarb Murshidabad Sanat 19 Julus Maimanat Manus
Translation: Struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his prosperous reign
Details :
Oblique milled (grained right) //// edge, Patna mint.
Mint name on coin Murshidabad but struck at Patna (Dot in center of cluster 3 on obverse)
KM#99 (Previous KM #774.2)
1 Rupee - Shah Alam II - KM#69
شاه عالم بادشاه
حامي دين محمد
ساى فضل لله
سكة زد بر حفت كشور
Translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah Alam Emperor Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes
Rev : Legend in Persian: Zarb Farrukhabad sanat 45 julus maimanat manus
ميمنت مانوس
سنة ۴٥ جلوس
ضرب فرخ اباد
Translation: Struck at Farrukhabad in the 45th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity
Details :
Oblique milled (grained right) //// edge, Farrukhabad mint (mint mark dot '•')
KM#69 (Previous KM #854)
Pr#314
1 Rupee - Shah Alam II - KM#70
شاه عالم بادشاه
حامي دين محمد
ساى فضل لله
سكة زد بر حفت كشور
Translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah Alam Emperor Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes
Rev : Legend in Persian: Zarb Farrukhabad sanat 45 julus maimanat manus
ميمنت مانوس
سنة ۴٥ جلوس
ضرب فرخ اباد
Translation: Struck at Farrukhabad in the 45th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity
Details :
Vertically milled (Straight grained) |||| edge, Farrukhabad mint but struck at Banaras (mint mark both inverted v '^' on obverse & dot in cluster on reverse)
KM#70 (Previous KM #854a)
Pr#318
1 Rupee - Shah Alam II - KM#70
شاه عالم بادشاه
حامي دين محمد
ساى فضل لله
سكة زد بر حفت كشور
Translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah Alam Emperor Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes
Rev : Legend in Persian: Zarb Farrukhabad sanat 45 julus maimanat manus
ميمنت مانوس
سنة ۴٥ جلوس
ضرب فرخ اباد
Translation: Struck at Farrukhabad in the 45th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity
Details :
Vertically milled (Straight grained) |||| edge, Farrukhabad mint but struck at Sagar (no mint marks)
KM#70 (Previous KM #854a)
Pr#318
1 Rupee - Shah Alam II - KM#117
شاه عالم بادشاه
حامي دين محمد
ساى فضل لله
سكة زد بر حفت كشور
Translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah Alam Emperor Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes
Rev : Legend in Persian: Zarb Murshidabad sanat 19 julus maimanat manus
ميمنت مانوس
سنة ١٩ جلوس
ضرب فرخ اباد
Translation: Struck at Murshidabad in the 19th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity
Details :
Plain edge, mint name on coin is Murshidabad but minted at Calcutta(This type has a star on obverse and a crescent on reverse)
KM#117 (Previous KM #774)
Pr#177
1 Rupee - Shah Alam II - KM#77
شاه عالم بادشاه
حامي دين محمد
ساى فضل لله
سكة زد بر حفت كشور
Translation: Defender of the religion of Muhammad, Shah Alam Emperor Shadow of the divine favour, put his stamp on the seven climes
Rev : Legend in Persian: Zarb Farrukhabad sanat 45 julus maimanat manus
ميمنت مانوس
سنة ۴٥ جلوس
ضرب فرخ اباد
Translation: Struck at Farrukhabad in the 45th year of his reign of tranquil prosperity
Details :
Plain edge, thin rim, Farrukhabad mint but struck at Calcutta
KM#77
Pr#326
References :
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_Presidency
- South Asian Coins & Paper Money (INDIAN EDITION) - Krause Publication
- The Coins of the English East India Company: Presidency Series. A Catalogue and Pricelist by Paul Stevens
- The Coins of the Bengal Presidency by Paul Stevens
- Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations Part IV by Fred Pridmore
