Lot 3199

Description

India, Dutch, Negapatam Mint, Indian Style Coinage, Hindu System, Gold pagoda, early version, c.1662-1747, struck at Negapatam Mint under Dutch control, (3.41 grams), obv. single standing deity, (Vishnu), on either side bent flaps, five dots above on each side, U U on both sides, four hanging stems on left U, waves below, rev. convex and granulated, (Scholten 1229a [p.139, Plate XV], M.1594c). Good extremely fine, rare.

Codrington in his Memoirs, Supplement Pl. No.13, notes a similar pagoda which is illustrated with a remark as "Possibly of the Tuticorin Mint"! A very detailed discussion of these issues is presented in Scholten (pps.138-139). This coin type above ceased to be struck in 1747 because the Company no longer made profits on the importation of gold from the Far East, and it was not pleased, when its pagodas of fineness 0.831 were melted down at other mints to make pagodas of lesser quality.