Robert Clive Coin, Gold, 2.90 g, ¼ Mohur, issued between AD 1766-1768, in the name of Shah Alam II, minted from Calcutta mint with the mint name Murshidabad, Sun mint mark on obv, English letter C on rev (off flan), RY 7 (refer Pridmore# 15-16 for 1 Mohur and ½ Mohur; Stevens# 2.7 & 2.9).
Pridmore has recorded only 2 denominations, namely Mohur and ½ Mohur; Stevens on the other hand included a unique 1/8 Mohur (# 2.9, p. 89), he also could not locate a single piece of ¼ Mohur of this type. NGS graded MS 62 Superb. Unpublished and First Known Coin, Unique.
Having a number of complaints of the scarcity of silver coinage, Lord Robert Clive introduced a gold coinage on 30th July 1766, which had Roman letter C imbibed near Julus on the rev. The coversion of the gold Mohur was fixed at 14 Sikka Rupees with the sanction of ½, ¼, and 1/8 Mohurs. However, this experiment of ficed Legal tender gold coins failed and they were withdrawn from circulation. Interstingly, at the time of their recall from circulation in Bengal, Madras was at war with Haider Ali of Mysore, and Madras requested aid from Bengal, including supply of money. Calcutta having this withdrawn gold in the treasury, shipped the greater part to Madras who recoined these Mohur coins into then current Star Pagodas.
Intersting statists of the gold coins are available which were sent to Madras (Pridmore, p. 201):
Total Gold Mohurs – 2,63,045 coins
Sent to Madras – 1,34,417 coins
Returned to the Treasurey, Calcutta - 1,20,161 coins
Balance coins not brought in – 8,467 coins remained in circulation !
