Item number: A515

Year: AD 1830

Material: Copper

Size: 24.8 x 24.8 x 1.4 mm

Weight: 6.2 g

Provenance: Noonans 2022

This is a ¼ anna copper coin, minted in AD 1830, which circulated under the jurisdiction of the British East India Company in Bombay. The anna was a now-defunct unit of currency in India, with a denomination equivalent to 1/16 of a rupee.

The obverse of the coin features the emblem of the British East India Company, consisting of a St. George’s shield flanked by lions. In the second quadrant of the shield is the Royal Arms of England. Atop the shield rests a knight’s helmet adorned with a lion. The lions on either side of the shield are holding St. George’s flags, symbols of England. The scroll beneath the lions’ feet bears the Latin inscription “AUSPICIO REGIS E SENATUS ANGLIÆ,” which translates to the company’s motto, “By command of the King and Parliament of England.” The lower edge of the coin is inscribed with the minting year “1830,” while the upper edge reads “EAST INDIA COMPANY.” Due to the coin’s age, the details of the shield and scroll have been worn down and are no longer discernible.

The reverse of the coin is adorned with a scale, symbolising fairness. The lower edge is inscribed in Urdu with the word “عدل,” meaning “justice,” and marked with the Persian numerals “۱۲۴۶,” indicating the year 1246 in the Hijri calendar.

In AD 1618, the British East India Company established its first trading post on the west coast of India in Surat. In AD 1662, as the company’s territories further expanded, the “Bombay Presidency” was established for administrative purposes. Starting in AD 1672, the Bombay Presidency set up a mint in its capital, Bombay, to produce European-style coins. In AD 1717, the company received further approval from the Mughal Emperor to mint Mughal-style gold and silver coins.

物件編號: A515

年代: 公元 1830 年

材質: 紅銅

尺寸: 24.8 x 24.8 x 1.4 mm

重量: 6.2 g

來源: 諾南斯 2022

這是一枚公元1830年，英國東印度公司在孟買管轄區流通的 ¼ 安納銅幣。安納是已經廢除的印度貨幣單位，其面額等同 1/16 盧比。

錢幣正面是英國東印度公司的紋章，一個兩側由雄獅攙扶的聖喬治盾牌，盾牌的第二象限上有英國王室家徽。盾牌頂部有一個以雄獅裝飾的騎士頭盔，兩側的雄獅手持象徵英格蘭的聖喬治旌旗。雄獅腳踏的卷軸以拉丁文鐫刻「AUSPICIO REGIS E SENATUS ANGLIÆ.」，即公司的座右銘「奉英格蘭國王和議會命令」(By command of the King and Parliament of England)。錢幣下緣鐫刻鑄造年份「1830」，上緣則是「EAST INDIA COMPANY」(東印度公司)。惜因年代久遠，盾牌和卷軸的細節遭到磨平已經不復可見。

錢幣背面以象徵公平的秤作為裝飾，下緣以烏爾都文鐫刻「عدل」即「正義」，再以波斯數字「۱۲۴۶」即回曆1246年標示紀年。

公元1618年，英國東印度公司在印度西岸的蘇拉特建立第一個貿易據點。公元1662年，隨著領地進一步擴張，公司創立「孟買管轄區」進行管理。自公元1672年，孟買管轄區在首府孟買設立造幣廠鑄造歐式硬幣。公元1717年，進一步得到蒙兀爾帝國皇帝的批准，得以鑄造蒙兀爾樣式的金銀幣。