1893.] E. Thurston — History of the East India Company Coinage. 53 
period is beset with difficulties, the problem being, as pointed out by 
Dr. Stanley Lane-Poole* to determine where the native coinage ends and 
the Company’s begins. 
1753. 
Calcutta. 
In a despatch to the Court of Directors dated 12th Febru- 
ary, 1753, it is mentioned that “ the utmost 
secrecy was necessary with reference to the 
establishment of a mint at Calcutta, as any attempt to effect an ar- 
rangement with the Nawab would be immediately overset by Jnggut 
Sing.” A vakil was entrusted and consulted, who said that his master, 
Hackem Beg, had a son in great power at Delhi, who might be able 
to get a phirmaund from the king ; but that this would be attended at 
least with the expense of 100,000 rupees, and that, on the arrival of 
the phirmaund at Cossimbazar, it would cost another 100,000 rupees 
to the mutsuddys and diwans of the Nawab to put the phirmaund in 
force. 
1759-60. The establishment of a mint at Calcutta finally took 
place in 1759 or 1760, and the following is a translation of the par- 
wana : “ To the noblest of merchants, the English Company, be the 
royal favour. In Calcutta a mint is established. You shall coin gold 
and silver of equal value and fineness with the ashrafees and rupees of 
Mursliidabad in the name of Calcutta. In the suburbs of Bangala, 
Bihar, and Orissa, they shall be current, and no person shall demand 
or insist upon a discount upon them. Dated the 11th of the moon 
Zihada in the 4tli year.” 
1792. In 1792 
Bengal. 
a Committee was constituted in Calcutta by order 
of the Governor- General, Earl Cornwallis, for 
superintending the mints and enquiring into 
the general state of the coinage in Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. Among 
the instructions given to the Committee were : — 
1. To enquire particularly into the cause of the little progress 
which had been made towards the establishment of the general currency 
of the sikka rupees. 
2. To ascertain the causes of the batta or discount that had fre- 
quently been levied on the exchange of a gold mohar for silver. 
3. To report whether it would be advisable to declare the gold 
mohars, and the multiples thereof, legal tender of payment in the 
three provinces in all transactions, public and private, at the value at 
which they were then received and paid at the general treasury and in 
all private transactions. 
* Catalogue of coins of the Moghul Emperors, 1892. 
