Bengal Presidency (British India) INO Shah Alam II Copper 1 Pice Historical Coin of Bengal

Bengal Presidency (British India), In the Name of Shah Alam II, Minting Year: 1831 CE (Regnal Year 37), Denomination: 1 Pice (1/64 Rupee), Metal: Copper, Weight: 6.31 grams, Diameter: 22.86 mm, Calcutta mint, Reference: KM# 19/53,  About Very Fine, Very Scarce,

Obverse: “٣٧” Persian legend: Sana julus 37 Shah Alam badshah.

Reverse: “এক পায় সিককা / یک پای سکہ / एक पाई सीका” in Bengali, Persian, and Devanagari.

The Bengal Presidency 1 Pice issued in the name of Shah Alam II represents an important phase of early British Indian coinage during the transition from Mughal authority to East India Company control. Although struck under British administration, these coins continued to carry the name of the Mughal emperor to preserve political legitimacy and public acceptance across Indian territories. Shah Alam II, one of the last significant Mughal rulers, had become largely dependent upon the East India Company by the late 18th century, and his imperial title remained on coinage even as real authority declined. The multilingual reverse design reflected the linguistic diversity of eastern India and the commercial importance of Bengal under Company administration. These issues are historically significant as symbols of the coexistence of Mughal imperial tradition and expanding British colonial power in India.

The copper 1 Pice coinage of the Bengal Presidency circulated widely in regional trade and local marketplaces during the early 19th century. Coins of this series exist in both medal and coin alignment varieties, adding collectible interest among numismatists. The use of Bengali, Persian, and Devanagari scripts on the reverse makes this issue one of the most distinctive multilingual copper coinages of early British India.