Lot 3033

Description

Malaysia, Sumatra, Benkulen, silver two fanams, c.1693-1768, obv. the old London Company balemark, G(overnor and) C(ompany of the Merchants of London Trading to the) E(ast Indies) with a beaded circle, rev. English Company in crude Malay Arabic, (2.25 grams), (Pr.2 and No.203 in Pridmore Sale [Glendining & co, 19th October 1982]). Off centred on the obverse, otherwise very fine and excessively rare.

The issue has been attributed to Benkulen, (original fort was named Fort York, but replaced in 1714 by a new fort two miles to the south and renamed Fort Marlborough), and today is a west coast port in Southern Sumatra. The issue was previously given to Madras by both Atkins and Pridmore (SNC Nov. 1961). The Arabic inscription was read by Dr. Kent (British Museum) as 'English Company' rather than 'Chinapatan' (Madras) and this with the realisation that in Madras 17-18th century records of the EIC 'West Coast' meant Sumatra and not India lead Pridmore to place the issue to Sumatra (SNC Nov. 1974).