1/5 Rupee/ Fanam : Bombay Presidency - Tellichery mint

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This is a fanam from Bombay presidency and was minted at Tellicherry according to the slip that came with this coin. The coin is smaller than a dime and the scales on the coin stare right at you. I am really impressed with the shape the coin is still in. Anyone know more about this coin?

I tried to look for this coin online but I have not been able to find any more info about this coin. Any thoughts?

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According to Pridmore, the T between the scales signifies Tellicherry mint (Obviously a shortform of Tellicherry).
He says that a series of velli(silver) fanams were ordered to represent 1/5th of a rupee and after a lot of resistance a few types were minted. This coin according to him is the second debased type of the silver fanam. He also says that the design change apart from distinguishing the lower quality was perhaps selected to conform with the inscription on the Bombay/Surat san coins.

[Harry]

Its a really nice coin, looks well preserved.

[@josephjk]

NGC classifies this as Bombay presidency
http://www.ngccoin.com/poplookup/WorldCoinPrices.aspx?category=132349&worldcoinid=333930&FromSearch=true

Baldwin's thinks it's Madras
http://www.baldwin.co.uk/coins-of-india/Malabar/1207.htm

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Yes it is a tricky coin because Tellicherry is a place in present day Kerala. Geographically speaking, Tellicherry is closer to Madras than to Bombay. Technically speaking, most places in Kerala were Protected states and didn't belong to a Presidency. My guess is that this coin was minted for Bombay Presidency at the Tellicherry mint. IMHO, it should be categorized as a Bombay Presidency coin with the mint name as Tellicherry.

Also the coin has "Struck at Bombay" inscribed on it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalassery

[@josephjk]

That makes sense...thanks!

[@josephjk]

Has anyone seen a recent listing of this coin for sale or auction? I'm trying to get a ballpark value for a VF grade - I'm assuming the NGC price is not very current

[Abhay]

The South Asian Coins catalogue lists this coin under Bombay Presidency. The details as per catalogue:

Bombay Presidency
Malabar Coast
Tellicherry
Mintname: Mumbai (Bombay)
Mint: Cannonore
1/5 Rupee
In the name of Alamgir II (1754-1759AD)
C # 695 Page 284

Abhay

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It depends on whether you think the design or the denomination is the more important. The scales obviously refer to Bombay. However, Bombay and Madras had two completely different monetary systems. In Bombay, the standard coin was the silver rupee of 16 annas. A 1/5th rupee does not fit in that system. In Madras, the standard coins were the silver fanam and the gold pagoda. A 1/5th rupee equals a fanam, 4 falus or 80 cash, so the coin fits that system very well. Also, the British proclaimed a coin reform of the Madras system in 1806 {setting the "Madras rupee" at 180 grains (11.7 gr) gross, 165 grains (10.7 gr) fine} and a new series of fanams were issued from 1808.

At the time, the British were concerned about the different systems and tried to unify them. This coin may have been thought of as a bridge between the two systems. However, there was a tendency to regard rupees as "muslim" and pagodas as "hindu", which could very well explain the resistance Pridmore noted.

Since the issue follows Madras practices, I regard it as a Madras issue.

Peter

[asm]

On Zeno, Frank has the following to say:
mintname on this denomination is Munbai. But it was struck at the Calicut mint with the letter "T"(for Tellicherry) and with the name of the Mughal Emperor Shah 'Alam II.
In May 1800, the Malabar province was transferred to the Government of the Madras
Presidency.
Therefore this denomination should be listed under the Madras Presidency and
I have changed the description label on my coin as follows:


British East India Co.
Madras Presidency
Malabar Coast
denomination: 1/5 rupee/fanam
mint: (Calicut), mintname: Munbai, letter T (for Tellicherry)
date: 1805.
KM 277. Pridmore 299.

Amit

[asm]

Here is my coin.