Lot 1980

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. $$ 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).