Lot 1979

Description

Madras Presidency, Indian Style Coinage, Hindu System, Gold pagoda, c.1678-1740, Struck at Fort St. George (Madras) mint, (3.405 grams), obv. single standing deity, (probably Vishnu?), rev. granulated, (Pr.2 var., KM. 288). Good extremely fine, rare.

Ex Spink & Son London, June 23, 1978 by private purchase and Colin E. Pitchfork Collection, Noble Numismatics Sale 48 (lot 1980). The granulated reverse was apparently copied from the Dutch Negapatam pagoda c.1678-1679. The type continued to be struck at the Madras mint until the introduction of the star pagoda in 1740. Many varieties occur and they circulated under several names. A similar piece was in the Dr. Lawrence Brent collection (Spink-Taisei Sale 9, lot 605).