In Mughal India, the silver rupee was a widely accepted currency that played a crucial role in the economy. The Mughal government introduced the silver rupee in the 16th century, and it became a standard unit of account.
The silver rupee was used extensively in trade and commerce, with merchants and traders using it to buy and sell goods. It was also used as a store of value and a medium of exchange.
During the British period, the silver rupee continued to be used as a currency in India. The British East India Company introduced the silver rupee in India in the 17th century, and it became a widely accepted currency.
Mughal Coins
Mughal silver rupees are a great investment option, offering amazing value in the tangible asset space. Their prices have increased substantially over the past 20 years.
It's essential to only buy Mughal silver rupees in Very Fine (VF) or better condition to ensure most details are intact. Avoid heavily worn specimens, damaged, weakly struck, or otherwise ugly coins.
Banker's or merchant's marks are common on Mughal silver rupees and usually don't affect their value. A pristine, non-marked coin may command a small premium.
East India Company
The East India Company played a significant role in the history of Mughal coins. They were granted a royal charter by Queen Elizabeth I, which allowed them to have a trade monopoly with eastern countries including Sumatra, Java, and India.
The territories governed by the East India Company were divided into three major administrative regions: Madras Presidency in the south, Bombay Presidency in the west, and Bengal Presidency in the east. Each of these regions issued their own coins until a unified coinage was introduced in 1835.
Early presidency issues often imitated local issues and the Mughal design to gain wider acceptance by the native population. This was a clever move, as it helped the East India Company's coins to be more widely accepted.
The East India Company had their own mints, but they often sent their bullion to the Mughal mints or forged the common coins of the contemporary Mughal Emperor. This was a common practice, especially in the early years of their coin production.
In 1717, the East India Company obtained rights to strike coins in the name of the Mughal emperor Farrukhsiyar on the island of Bombay. This marked a significant turning point in the history of Mughal coins.
The Surat mint finally came under direct control of the East India Company in 1800.
Imperial Coinage
After the Indian Rebellion of 1857-58, the British Crown took over the administration of British India from the East India Company.
The early imperial issued coins continued to bear a fixed date, like rupee coins with the year 1862, to discourage the 'batta' system where money changers penalized coins for wear and weight loss.
Coins minted under the Crown from 1862 to 1947 had a fixed date, which was meant to address the 'batta' system issue.
The Bombay mint introduced a unique system of dots to date coins from 1863 to 1875, placing them below the date, above the word 'ONE', or in both positions.
The dot-dating system was only used for the 1862 dated Bombay rupees and was discontinued in 1875.
Coins dated from 1874 onwards were dated continuously, suggesting that the 'batta' system had largely disappeared by then.
Calcutta mint coins usually carry no mint mark or an incused 'C' at the bottom of the reverse, while Bombay mint issues have a raised bead below the date or a raised/incused 'B' in the top or bottom flower.
Here's a comparison of mint marks for Calcutta and Bombay mint issues:
Mughal Coins of Muhammad Shah for Sale
Mughal coins of Muhammad Shah are a great investment opportunity, with prices starting around $35 for common specimens in average condition. Prices can range from $35 to over $100 for the same coin in mint-state preservation.
It's essential to buy Mughal coins in Very Fine (VF) or better condition to ensure most details are intact. This will give you the best value for your investment.
Mughal coins are often found with small punch marks called banker's or merchant's marks, which don't significantly affect their value. However, pristine, non-marked coins may command a small premium.
Investors should stick to larger 1/2 rupee and one rupee units for maximum return potential, as fractional unit coins are less common and less valuable.
The Wind Waker
In The Wind Waker, Silver Rupees are worth 200. This is a significant increase from their value in Ocarina of Time, where they were only worth 5 Rupees.
Silver Rupees serve as a puzzle element, requiring Link to collect a set within a time limit to open a locked door or make a Treasure Chest appear. These puzzles can be found in various locations, including the Ice Cavern and the Shadow Temple.
To collect Silver Rupees, Link must solve a series of challenges, often within a time limit. This requires strategy and quick thinking, making it a fun and engaging part of the game.
In The Wind Waker, Silver Rupees are used to purchase various goods and participate in mini-games. They are also necessary to purchase the Sail, which costs 80 Rupees, and to decipher Triforce Charts, which costs 398 Rupees per chart.
Here's a list of Rupee values in The Wind Waker:
Silver Rupee
The Silver Rupee is a type of currency that's worth 200 units. It's also mentioned in the context of a coin from the Mughal Empire, specifically from 1719.
The Silver Rupee coin from the Mughal Empire weighed 11.55g and was minted in Ahmadabad. It's a rare find, even in good condition, with test marks on both sides.
Here are the different types of Rupee, including the Silver Rupee:
Bengal Presidency
The Bengal Presidency was a significant regional territorial power after the 1764 Battle of Buxar. This marked a turning point in the history of the region, with the East India Company gaining control over large parts of eastern India.
The Company's Bengal Presidency was established in 1757, when they gained the right to mint coinage in Bengal. This allowed them to produce their own currency, which was initially struck under the name of the Mughal Emperor Alamgir II.
Early Bengal Presidency issues were struck by mints under the name of the Mughal Emperor Alamgir II (r. 1754–1759), and later of Shah Alam II (r. 1760–1806). The Bengal Residency government ordered the coining of sikka rupees from 1793 for use as legal tender.
Here's a breakdown of the Bengal Presidency's currency system:
- 1 pie = 1⁄3 pice = 1⁄12 anna
- 1 pice = 1⁄4 anna = 1⁄64 rupee
- 1 anna = 1⁄16 rupee
- 15 rupees (approximately) = 1 mohur
The Bengal Presidency's currency system was complex, but it's interesting to see how they divided up the rupee into smaller units.
Rupee
The Rupee is a fundamental part of the Zelda series. It's used to purchase items and services from various vendors and shops throughout the games. In most games, the value of Rupees is denoted by their color.
Green Rupees are worth 1 Rupee in most games, but in Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, they can be worth 1, 5, 10, or 20 Rupees. Blue Rupees are worth 5 Rupees in most games, but in Link's Awakening DX, they're worth 1 Rupee.
Red Rupees are worth 20 Rupees in most games, but in Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, they can be worth 5 or 10 Rupees. Purple Rupees are worth 50 Rupees in most games, but in Ocarina of Time, they're worth 50 Rupees, and in Four Swords, they're worth 1 Rupee.
Silver Rupees are worth 100 Rupees in most games, but in Ocarina of Time, they're worth 5 Rupees, and in Four Swords, they're worth 100 Rupees. Gold Rupees are worth 300 Rupees in most games, but in Ocarina of Time, they're worth 200 Rupees.
Here's a breakdown of the Rupee values in different Zelda games:
Rupees can be found in various locations throughout the games, including in treasure chests, hidden rooms, and by defeating enemies. In some games, like Four Swords, Rupees can have different values depending on their size.
George V and Coinage
George V's effigy was used on coins in many parts of the British Empire, but with some modifications. The Most Noble Order of the Garter collar on the King's robe was replaced by the Order of the Indian Empire on the coins.
This modification caused controversy, particularly with the 1911 One Rupee coin, also known as the Pig Rupee. The design change was made to avoid confusion with a pig.
The design change was significant enough that a new coin had to be redesigned.
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