One Rupee OMS of Bengal Presidency

The Bengal Province of British India, formerly known as the Presidency of Fort William, was widely recognized as the Bengal Presidency. At the height of its authority, it encompassed vast regions that today form parts of both South Asia and Southeast Asia.

The rupees of the Bengal Presidency were issued in both semi–machine struck and fully machine struck forms during the transition from traditional minting methods to modern industrial techniques. Semi–machine struck coins, produced in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, retained elements of hand striking but incorporated mechanical aids for improved uniformity. By the mid-19th century, fully machine struck rupees became standard, offering precise designs, consistent weights, and higher production efficiency, reflecting the technological advancement of the Bengal Presidency’s mints under British rule.

The Bengal Presidency rupees, both semi–machine struck and fully machine struck were typically composed of silver with a fineness of about 0.917 (91.7% silver). The remaining portion, around 8.3%, was usually copper, added to improve durability and resistance to wear.

I found a Rupee as below figure is quite different, containing 50% silver, 48% copper and 2% gold. Weight of this rupee was 11.3g with a diameter of 27.5mm and thickness of 2.5mm. Lettering patters are almost same as silver rupee. These types of coins are often called as off metal strikes (OMS).





 

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