The East India Company acquired the mint at Banares from the Raja of Awadh in 1776, soon after the Battle of Plassey. The coins they issued from this mint showed a double regnal year, the fixed RY 17 (the RY of the first British issues) and then the progressive RY until the death of Shah Alam II in his RY 49. A SUPERB specimen! From the collection of Alan DeShazo, the noted numismatist and author of several papers on Islamic coins. |