62 E. Thurston — History of the Hast India Company Coinage. [No. 1, 
Dacca, Patna, Mur- 
shidabad. 
Bengal. 
he best understood by the Natives, especially the lower orders, by 
substituting- “ ek pal sikka ” and “ adhd pai sikka ” for “paun ana and 
(the inscriptions originally ordered) resolved that instructions for 
altering the inscriptions be issued to the Mint Master. 
Towards the end of 1795 trouble was caused by the debased 
quality of the gold mohars issued from the 
Dacca, Patna, and Murshidabad mints, and by 
the rupees issued from the Patna and Murshid- 
abad mints being below sikka standard. It was, after enquiry into the 
matter, resolved that the coinage of gold at the Patna mint should be 
for the time discontinued, and that, for the present, no more coins 
should be struck at the Murshidabad mint. In the course of the cor- 
respondence relating to the debased coinage, reference is made to the 
distinguishing marks of the three mints, but, for precaution’s sake, 
the nature of these private marks (recognisable with a lens) is not 
mentioned. 
1796. In February, 1796, it was resolved that all the gold bullion 
sent to the Calcutta mint should, until further 
orders, be coined into quarter mohars, inasmuch 
as these coins were in much greater request among the lower orders 
than the gold coins of higher value. 
In April 1796, in consequence of a report from the Mint Master, 
that considerable loss would be sustained annually if Government 
adhered to their original intention of coining the whole pice at 16 
annas and the half pice at 8 annas sikka weight, Government was 
reduced to the alternative of relinquishing the establishment of the 
new copper coinage altogether, or reducing its value. It was accord- 
ingly resolved that the coining of whole pice of 1 2 annas and half pice 
of 6 annas sikka weight, be commenced immediately. The Mint 
Master, however, reported that dies could not be made for pice of 
smaller diameter than those then in use, as there would not be a 
sufficient body of metal to yield a bold impression. It was thereupon 
ordered that, in the event of its appearing impracticable to insert the 
whole of the inscription, the Persian portion should bo omitted instead 
of the Nagari as suggested by the Mint. 
1797. The coinage of money at tho Dacca and Patna mints ceased 
on 31st January 1797, and December 31st 
1796, respectively. The date of the closing 
of the Murshidabad mint I have not been able 
to find, but the records of 1799 make reference to “ assaying materials 
which may be deposited in the late mint at that station, and to the 
best means of disposing of the building which was formerly used for 
a mint at Murshidabad.” 
Dacca, Patna, Mur- 
shidabad, 
