Sale: CNG 70, Lot: 1186. Estimate $300.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2005.  Sold For $725. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

INDIA, Mughal Empire. Shah Alam II. 1759-1806. AR Nazarana Rupee (11.09 g, 1h). Shahjahanabad mint. Dated AH 1220, RY 47 (1805/6 AD). Legends with poetical couplet; AH date with parasol and flower mint marks, all within a border of roses, thistles and shamrocks / Continuation of legends with regnal year and mint, all within a border of roses, thistles and shamrocks. KM 714; cf. Wright 2467; Hull 2312. VF. Rare Nazarana rupee. ($300)

The floral border is clearly emblematic of Great Britain, i.e. England, Scotland and Ireland. While the Mughal emperor was completely a vassal of the British East India company at this time, there must have been a specific rationale for this special representation, which only occurs for two years, AH 1219 and 1220. This was the time of the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803-1805), when Jeshwant Rao Holkar defeated the Peshwa Raja Baji Rao II and in turn struck against his British allies. Holkar annihilated a mixed British and native force led by Colonel Monson in a running battle over the months of July and August 1804, and launched a siege of Agra and Delhi, where the aged and blind Shah Alam II held sway over his derelict kingdom. Holkar undoubtedly planned to lay claim to the Mughal throne and titular rule over India. General Lake relieved Delhi in November 1804, and the war sputtered on for another year until Holkar agreed to a peace treaty in January 1806. This presentation rupee and its associated mohur were struck in recognition of the English relief of the Mughal capital, after a war which sullied many reputations. Shah Alam died a virtual beggar shortly after Holkar's defeat. Monson, his military career in tatters, returned to England and died the following year. Jeshwant Rao Holkar, his grand plans frustrated, slipped into insanity and died in 1811. Even the future Duke of Wellington, at the time Governor General of India and Monson's superior officer, was blamed for giving Monson vague and inconclusive orders and not providing sufficient support to the retreating British troops.