Guti Pagoda Coin

[gsrctr]

I bought this pagoda coin last year and the seller listed it as "MUGHAL EMPIRE: MUHAMMAD SHAH (1719-1748 AD), AV PAGODA, 2.72G. GUTI MINT". Guti (also goes by Gooty and currently as Gutthi) is a small town in Andhra Pradesh in southern India, with an incredible fort (picture below). It was under various rulers at different times, Muhammad Shah being one of them. However, when I sent the coin for grading, NGC identified it as by Maratha Confederacy (time when Maratha Peshwa gave semi-autonomy to the strongest of his generals) dated 1755 but still bearing the name of Muhammad Shah! From what I read, it looks like around 1746, the Maratha general Murari Rao captured the Guti fort and held it until 1775 CE, when the Mysore ruler Hyder Ali attacked and besieged the fort. After two months, Murari Rao was forced to surrender, as he ran out of water supplies.

I see that this coin is the only one graded in its category at NGC. It also has a Mughal weight standard of 2.7 grams vs ~3.4 for others.

I cannot read the inscription, can someone please translate? Appreciate if anyone has more information on this.

[Figleaf]

Can't help with the legend, but there are enough others who can read it. I found a ½ pagoda of this type here. The description confirms your reading. The picture shows some text missing on your coin but mentions no date.

NGC prolly thought of Maratha Confederacy - Ghorpade Chiefs of Gooty KM 382, which, they claim, is dated 1168AH (1755 AD) and which is not illustrated. I would trust neither KM nor NGC with this coin.

Peter