164 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [May, 1914. 



The ankush persists on this coin. It appears also on sub- 

 sequent silver coins with the differentiation of two streamers 



attached until 1232— 10. The "cobra's spectacles" are now 

 absent. 



Omitting for a moment mention of the copper coin of this 

 epoch, we find No. 50 marking the restoration of Ahmadabad 

 to the Gaikwar by the return to the simple ankush and the 

 replacement of the symbol *it. There is nothing in the date to 

 contradict this view. In the first month of the next year 

 1233 a. h. Ahmadabad was formally transferred to the British 

 Government and the coins henceforth issued bear nothing but 

 a simple conventional rose in the sin of the Jul us. This bears a 

 very close resemblance to the mark on Nos. 5 and 6 and in fact 

 is identical with it save that it is somewhat more coarsely 

 delineated. The mark was evidently conceived by the British 

 mint master as the most suitable one for the purpose. It sug- 



indicates the flower that is England's badge. 



ghal 



The mark on the copper coins, which, it is to be noticed, 

 comprise both the paisa (pice) and the pai (pie) is not a 

 conspicuous one and appears to be a mere ornament. 



Henceforth the series proceeds more or less regularly to 

 the year 1249 a.h. The Jul us date is almost invariably 

 incorrect. In 1242 a.h. a slight change of type appears. This 

 has been already noticed. 



From the fact that rupees and half rupees of certain dates 

 are found missing, it is probable that no coins were minted of 

 these dates. This does not mean that the mint stopped issuing 

 coins, but that no trouble was taken to change the dies. The 

 dates found are 1233, 1236, 1239, 1241, 1242, 1243, 1244, 1248 

 and 1249. Half rupees are listed in the Appendix of all these 

 dates except 1239. It is possible that Nos. 55 and 58 are not of 

 1236 and 1241, but probably these years were on the die, as after 

 the first two or three years of British occupation, not more 

 than one regular year was ever ascribed to a Hijri date, so far 

 as can be determined. And the existence of both rupees and 

 half rupees of certain dates and the absence of both denomina- 

 tions of others certainly supports the view that the change of 

 dates was made not regularly, but from time to time. 



I have thought it wise not to break the thread of the 

 argument by the notice of a striking coin which interrupts the 

 series issued in the name of Shah 'Alain II. This is a coin 

 minted by Bidar Bakht in 1203 Ahad, and bearing a mint name 

 which looks remarkably like Ahmadabad. The best specimen of 

 which a plate has been made appears to be No. 2499 I.M.C 

 (Wright). There is a remote possibility that the mint name is 

 not Ahmadabad but something else, e*g. Muhammadabad, for 



