B E I C Bengal Presidency 1 Pice NM Calcutta ND 1796

[ZYV]

7.03 g, 26.8 mm.
I'm not sure about the metal.
The coin is obviously smaller than "normal" copper pice of 1796.

I'd uploaded it on zeno some time ago
https://www.zeno.ru/showphoto.php?photo=307705&cat=all&ppuser=1760
No answers there.

Please, tell - what is it?

[FosseWay]

It's a funny colour   , almost silver-like.

Given it's also smaller than it should be, could it have been mechanically reduced in diameter and then silvered in order to pass as a higher denomination? Is there a suitable silver denomination that is a likely candidate?

[Seeker55]

My Krause ("South Asian Coins and Paper Money - Indian Edition 2013") lists six varieties of very similar Calcutta pice (KM# 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, and 57). Variations of diameter from 24.7 to 27.2 mm are reported, with weights varying from 6.1-11.6 g. I would venture a guess that yours might be KM#56, described as 26 mm, no weight listed. Manufacturing standards were not nearly as precise then as now, so I would not be too concerned about relatively minor variations in weight or diameter. The color, while certainly on the lighter side, looks OK to me, within the range for bronze, and keeping in mind that the light during photography can affect it quite a bit.

[ZYV]

Thank you for the answers, friends!
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The coin has dull silvery surface colour.

[Figleaf]

A copper coin, silvered, presumably to serve religious purposes.

Peter