103) Celebrating 60 years (Diamond Jubilee)
of India Government Mint, Kolkata:
The prevailing scenario before the setting
up of the First East India Company Mint at Calcutta (present day Kolkata, India):
The
East India Company settlement at Calcutta was established on 24.08.1690,
its factory fortified in 1696 and a major fort named after King William
III was set up in 1700.
In
1701, Murshid Kuli Khan was the Finance Minister of the Mughal Empire in
Bengal charged with the responsibility of collecting revenue, expenditure of
public money and administration of justice.
In
1704, Murshid Kuli Khan became the Deputy Governor of Bengal, Bihar and
Orissa. He moved his capital to Muxadavad which he renamed as “Murshidabad”
after himself.
Although
the Mughal Empire was declining and breaking up, and its Governors who were
heading various regions were becoming independent, the coins were still being
issued in the name of the Mughal Emperor and were dated according to the years
of his rule.
In
1715, the Company’s lands in Bengal were declared an independent
Presidency of the Company, directly responsible to London.
The
Company’s rights to trade in the region were derived from the Mughal Emperor,
but by now had become dependent on an uneasy agreement with the Governor who
had declared himself as the Nawab, independent of the Mughal Empire.
At
this juncture the East India Company had no rights to mint its own coins
and was sending its gold and silver to the Murshibabad Mint where it was struck
into coins after paying standard duties and mint charges.
In
1756, Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah of the Mughal province of Bengal captured
the East India Company stronghold, “Fort William” and renamed Calcutta as “Alinagar”.
On
02.01.1757, Robert Clive recaptured the Fort defeating Siraj-ud-Daulah
who on 07.02.1757, was forced to agree to giving the East India Company the
right to establish its own mint and issue silver and gold coins (“siccas” and
“asharfis”/ “mohurs”) struck on the standard of the Murshidabad Mint.
These
coins were permitted to be circulated in the region (Bengal, Bihar and Orissa)
without incurring any additional expenses.
Setting up of the First East India Company
Mint in Calcutta and its functions:
From
1757-1791, accordingly, the First East India Company Mint, called the
“Alinagar-Calcutta” Mint was set up in a building next to the infamous “Black
Hole” in the old Fort (at the location where the General Post Office – GPO – is
presently situated).
On
04.04.1757, the first Calcutta rupee minted by the East India Company at
the Calcutta Mint was brought out, followed by 4000 more silver strikes but
these coins were not circulated.
Before
the appointment/arrival of an Assay Master and machinery from Europe, the
assistance of coin makers/Assayers from the Murshidabad Mint was taken. Jagat
Seth, one of the leading shroffs of the Murshidabad Mint, acted as the Assayer
and affirmed the fineness of the bullion and the correctness of the weight of
coins before circulation.
After
the Battle of Plassey and Siraj-ud-Daulah’s murder, Mir Jafar was made the Ruler
of Bengal. He ratified the “sanad” (permission) given by Siraj-ud-Daulah to the
East India Company on 15.07.1757 and confirmed the Company’s rights to mint
coins on behalf of the Mughal Empire. For
the first time, a formal documentation of the authorisation was issued.
By
28.07.1757, about 40,000 siccas were struck. However all these coins had
stayed in the Mint’s vaults and were not circulated.
On
29.08.1757, in terms of the new “Sanad”, the siccas minted at the
Calcutta Mint which had undergone the rigorous formalities concerning their
mintage at Calcutta became legal tender in the provinces of Bengal, Bihar and
Orissa and were issued for general circulation.
Interestingly, the first silver coin minted by the
Calcutta Mint is kept as an exhibit in the British Museum while the first gold
mohur struck at the mint is reportedly in the collection of a foreign
numismatist.
Until
1765 each new Nawab signed a Treaty with the East India Company continuing
this authorisation to mint and circulate coins.
On
12.08.1765, the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II appointed the East India
Company to the Diwani of Bengal,
Bihar and Orissa. In effect, the coins
struck at Calcutta Mint which were hitherto in the name of the Mughal Emperor
under the authority of the Nawab, were now to be issued under the authority of
the East India Company.
The
coins struck at Calcutta Mint were based on the Mughal issues from Murshidabad.
The rupee was 0.98 fine silver. Each rupee was subdivided into 16 annas with
each anna being further sub-divided into 12 pice and was equivalent to one
Bengal “sicca”. Each coin bore the “AH”
date and a julus date (“san” or “sun”) denoting the number of years the Emperor
had reigned.
The
Calcutta mint also made changes to the mint name it struck on its coins. The
first issues brought out in April 1757 bore the name “Alinagar-Calcutta”. But
coins struck from July onwards, were struck with “Kalkutta” only. After 1765,
when the East India Company was appointed to the Diwani of Bengal, the Mint
changed the name to “Murshidabad”, making its coins identical in every way to
those issued from the Murshidabad Mint.
On
29.05.1777, the Calcutta Mint was authorised to use the 19th
year permanently. The 19 san sicca coinage showed each new AH year.
Setting up of the Second East India Company
Mint:
In
1790, a second Calcutta mint was set up at the site of the Gillet ship
Building establishment which became fully functional by 1792.
Two
Bengal Army engineers Lieutenants Golding and Humphries were charged with the
supervision of construction and installation of machinery at the new Calcutta
Mint site. The New minting machinery (still based on the hand operated screw
principle) was made at the Calcutta mint with frames cast at the Arsenal.
In
August 1792, based on the
recommendations of the Calcutta Mint Committee:
-
After 10.04.1794, only the
“san 19” sicca rupees were to be received in public treasuries and holders of
any other coins were required to submit their coins to the Treasuries and have
them converted into sicca rupees.
-
The coins issued by the
Dacca, Patna Murshidabad and Calcutta Mints were to be identical in every
respect and had to be milled.
-
The Hegira year was to be
omitted from the coins and only “San 19” coins were to be issued.
The
first three mints were making weekly reports to the Calcutta Mint, hence they
were considered as Branch Mints of the Calcutta Mint. Later, the Patna Mint
closed on 31.12.1796, the Dacca mint closed on 31.12.1797, and the Murshidabad
mint closed in 1799.
In
1796, nineteen more manual cork and screw presses were purchased from
Mathew Boulton’s Soho Mint, Birmingham, England. At the Calcutta Mint modern coins with milled edges began to get struck.
The
new presses permitted for the first time to engrave a complete impression of
the die on each coin. The fixed AH year 1202 (AD 1797-1788) was used on the new
issues but approval was obtained to drop the AH date altogether.
In 1808, the East India Company again
took quotes from Soho for two steam operated mints each capable of striking
1000000 coins a week, one for the Calcutta Mint and the other for the Madras
Mint. This proposal was shelved.
In 1820, Lieutenant William Nain Forbes
of the Bengal Engineers was deputed to Birmingham to purchase a steam powered
mint for Calcutta. The new Mint was capable of producing 200000 rupee coins a
day.
By
March 1821, a division of orders for the steam engines, coining and
cutting out presses, drawbench, melting furnaces etc for the new mint had been
established with Boulton, Watt and Company shipping most of the equipment to
Calcutta by 1823.
This
Mint was taken over by the Stamps and Stationary Committee in 1833.
No
trace/remnants of the first two mints exist today on the ground and they are
now consigned only to the history books.
Setting up of the Third East India Company
Mint:
The Foundation stone
of the third Calcutta Mint was laid in March 1824 and it became operational
from 01.08.1829.It is located at Strand Road facing the Hooghly, near the towering Howrah Bridge and is now known as the "Old Silver Mint".
By
1830, the “new Calcutta Mint” (now called the “Old Mint” or “Silver
Mint”) was functioning at full capacity and striking silver, copper and gold
coins. In fact, the first coins struck at this mint in 1830 were 1 pie coins,
followed by silver coins which went into circulation by January 1831.
The
silver mint opened in 1831.
Till
1835, although the coins were issued by the East India Company, because the
coins were minted in the name of the Murshidabad Mint, mint marks were not
carried on the issues. This practice of
not putting a Mint Mark on coin issues from the Calcutta (present day
Kolkata)Mint continued even after the Standard coinage/Regal issues/Post
Independence India issues even after 1835.
In
1835, with the implementation of the Standard Coinage Act, new coins
with the head of King William IV were brought out in silver in September 1835
and gold and copper in December 1835. At this time, the Bombay Mint was
producing only gold and silver coins, while, copper coins were being minted at
the Madras Mint.
In
1860, a new set of mint buildings were being added to the north of the
Calcutta Mint grounds. It was known as the Copper
Mint which began operations in April 1865. However, as demand
for copper coins was minimal at that time, it was temporarily closed down from 1866
to 1878.
Later
from 1889 to 1923, the Calcutta Copper Mint provided all copper and
bronze coins for circulation in India, as the Madras mint had closed down and
Bombay Mint was issuing only silver and gold coins.
Both Silver Mint and Copper Mint functioned
side by side.
Between
1916 and 1918, during World War I, the Calcutta Mint was requisitioned
to produce bronze penny and ½ penny coins for Australia.
Both
the Mints were well equipped with coin presses supplied by Boulton and Watt of
Soha, Birmingham, England. Apart from coins, Calcutta Mint also made medals and
decorations during the British Regime, a function which is continuing to the
present day. In addition to domestic issue of coins, the Calcutta Mint issued
coins for countries and estates both within and outside India.This mint was the first to successfully process pure nickel for coinage purposes in Asia.
The
Mint was of great importance since it was one of the two Mints (the other being
the Bombay Mint) producing silver coins which were in circulation at that time.
As many as 300000 to 600000 silver coins were minted here daily. Gold, copper
and bronze coins were also minted here apart from making medals.
The third Calcutta Mint: A heritage
structure today:
The
“Old Calcutta Mint” continued minting silver coins until 1952 when it
was closed down as a Mint.
Thereafter,
with coining operations shifting to the Fourth Calcutta Mint (presently the
India Government Mint, Kolkata, at Alipore), it functioned as a silver
refinery, where noble metal was extracted from batteries used by the Indian Air
Force till 1972, when it was closed down finally and the silver reserves
transferred to a new facility at Taratola in September 1985.
Its
old and dilapidated building with its imposing frontage designed as a replica
of the Temple of Minerva in Athens, still stands today. The operative blocks
were hidden out of view by the magnificent frontage. The crumbling wall plaster
and wild growth of foliage barely conceal the grandeur of the Grecian Doric
columns of the Mint.
The
Indian National Trust for Art and Culture (INTACH), West Bengal and a
consortium of Firms led by D & F Group INC of the USA have collaborated
together to restore the Old Mint’s heritage building including a large gallery,
workshop, copper mint, silver mint etc and convert it into a coins and currency
museum for tourism promotion and creating a suitable infrastructure around it
for its continuous upkeep and maintenance.
The fourth Calcutta Mint at Alipore (presently
known as the India Government Mint, Kolkata) which is a unit of the Securities Printing and Minting
Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL):
In
the late 1930s, a new Mint was proposed to be built at Alipore for which
the foundation work was completed in 1942. With the outbreak of World War II,
this project came to a standstill. Later, after India gained Independence from
the British in 1947, the project was taken up again and the Alipore Mint became
fully functional on 19th March 1952 producing coins, medals,
decorations and badges.
The
Alipore Mint started operations with a minting capacity of about 1200000
(twelve lac) coins per eight hourly shifts. The coins of this period were known
as “Anna” and “Pice” or Paise”.
The
Alipore Mint has at various points of time has issued Nickel, Cupro-Nickel,
Aluminium Bronze, Aluminium Magnesium, Bronze, Nickel Brass and Ferritic
Stainless Steel coins the metal composition determined largely by the rising
costs of input metals/materials. It has also been issuing Commemorative coins
since inception which are sought after pieces by Collectors/Numismatists.
Modernisation
of the Kolkata Mint at Alipore is a constant endeavour of the Mint Authorities
to place the Mint facilities at par with the best in the World. This has led to
installation of Induction Melting Furnaces, highly efficient continuous Casting
plant, High Cold Rolling Mills, Strip Milling Machine, Annealing Furnaces,
Blanking Presses, Picking and Polishing Lines, High Speed Coining Presses, Cutting
Machines – used for cutting sheets of silver, nickel and gold coins, Filtration
Machines used for filtering silver and other coins, Washing and Polishing
Machines for coins , Drying machines for heating the Dies and drying the
coins/medals etc, Blanking, counting and packing machines as well as latest
computerised software is now available at the Alipore Mint.
The present daily average output of coins at the Alipore Mint is 5 to 6 million pieces. In addition to the domestic coinage, the Mint undertakes coinage orders from other countries. The Mint has also worked as a centre for issue of gold bars in exchange of unrefined gold tendered by licensed dealers. The Mint produces gold, silver, copper and nickel medals for defence, educational institutions, social service, badges, tokens and medallions for National and International film Festivals. It also makes medals for military and civilian awards including the Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Paramvir chakra, Mahavir chakra, Vir chakra, shaurya chakra etc.
The present daily average output of coins at the Alipore Mint is 5 to 6 million pieces. In addition to the domestic coinage, the Mint undertakes coinage orders from other countries. The Mint has also worked as a centre for issue of gold bars in exchange of unrefined gold tendered by licensed dealers. The Mint produces gold, silver, copper and nickel medals for defence, educational institutions, social service, badges, tokens and medallions for National and International film Festivals. It also makes medals for military and civilian awards including the Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Paramvir chakra, Mahavir chakra, Vir chakra, shaurya chakra etc.
Commemorative Coin issued by the India
Government Mint, Kolkata:
Commemorative
coins have been issued by the India Government Mint, Kolkata to commemorate the
Diamond Jubilee (Sixty years) of the Alipore Mint. Both Proof and Uncirculated
coins sets in the denomination of Rs.60/- and Rs.5/- have been issued. These
coins were also made available by the India Government Mint, Kolkata as single
coin souvenirs of Rs.60/- each.
I have received a Proof Coin set from the Kolkata Mint
yesterday, within a week of close of Booking for these commemorative coins,
which speaks volumes for the high levels of efficiency and standards that IGM
Kolkata is striving to achieve in prompt delivery of coins booked and effecting
prompt customer service.
The details are as under:
The
above is an image of the cover of the album of the Proof coins
The
obverse of the two coins Rs.60/- and Rs.5/- as they appear on the Coin album.
The
obverse of the Rs. 60/- coin.
On the top centre is the Lion Capitol of Emperor Ashoka which is the emblem of
the Government of India. The words “Satyameva Jayate” (coined by Mahamana Madan
Mohan Malaviya – meaning “Truth Always Prevails”). On the left periphery is
mentioned “Bharat” in Hindi and on the right periphery is mentioned “India” in
English. Below the Lion Capitol, on the bottom of the coin is mentioned the
denomination of the coin “60”, preceded by the rupee symbol.
The
reverse of the Rs. 60/- coin. On the
upper periphery is mentioned “Bharat Sarkar Taksal Kolkata ke 60 Varsh” in
Hindi. On the lower periphery is mentioned “60 years of India Govt. Mint,
Kolkata” in English. The emblem of Security Printing and Minting Corporation of
India Limited (SPMCIL) of which the India Government Mint, Kolkata is a part
of, and which is also the emblem of IGM Kolkata is placed in the centre top
below the inscription in Hindi, below which is an image of the building of the
Alipore Mint. Further below are mentioned the commemorative years “1952-2012”.
The
specifications of this coin are:
Shape:
Circular; Diameter: 39 mm (This is a smaller coin as against the regular
commemorative coin issues of 44 mm); No. of serrations: 180 (as against 200 serrations
on Commemorative coin issues of 44 mm); Weight: 22.5 gms; Metal Composition:
Quaternary Alloy (Silver 50%, Copper 40%, Nickel 5% and Zinc 5%).
The
obverse of the Rs. 5/- coin. On the top centre is the Lion Capitol of
Emperor Ashoka which is the emblem of the Government of India. The words
“Satyameva Jayate” (coined by Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya – meaning “Truth
Always Prevails”) appear below the emblem. On the left periphery is mentioned “Bharat” in Hindi and on
the right periphery is mentioned “India” in English. Below the Lion Capitol, on
the bottom of the coin is mentioned the denomination of the coin “5”, preceded
by the rupee symbol.
The
reverse of the Rs. 5/- coin. On the
upper periphery is mentioned “Bharat Sarkar Taksal Kolkata ke 60 Varsh” in
Hindi. On the lower periphery is mentioned “60 years of India Govt. Mint,
Kolkata” in English. The emblem of Security Printing and Minting Corporation of
India Limited (SPMCIL) of which the India Government Mint, Kolkata is a part
of, and which is also the emblem of IGM Kolkata is placed in the centre top
below the inscription in Hindi, below which is an image of the building of the
Alipore Mint. Further below are mentioned the commemorative years “1952-2012”.
The
specifications of this coin are:
Shape:
Circular; Diameter: 23 mm; No. of serrations: 100; Weight: 6.0 gms; Metal
Composition: Nickel Brass (Copper 75%, Zinc 20% and Nickel 5%).
The above circulating coin has been contributed for my collection by Krishna Tonpe.
The obverse of the Rs. 5/- circulating coin issued by the Mumbai Mint. On the top centre is the Lion Capitol of Emperor Ashoka which is the emblem of the Government of India. The words “Satyameva Jayate” appear below the emblem. On the left periphery is mentioned “Bharat” in Hindi and on the right periphery is mentioned “India” in English. Below the Lion Capitol, on the bottom of the coin is mentioned the denomination of the coin “5”, preceded by the rupee symbol.
Shape: Circular; Diameter: 23 mm; No. of serrations: 100; Weight: 6.0 gms; Metal Composition: Nickel Brass (Copper 75%, Zinc 20% and Nickel 5%).
The above circulating coin has been contributed for my collection by Krishna Tonpe.
The obverse of the Rs. 5/- circulating coin issued by the Mumbai Mint. On the top centre is the Lion Capitol of Emperor Ashoka which is the emblem of the Government of India. The words “Satyameva Jayate” appear below the emblem. On the left periphery is mentioned “Bharat” in Hindi and on the right periphery is mentioned “India” in English. Below the Lion Capitol, on the bottom of the coin is mentioned the denomination of the coin “5”, preceded by the rupee symbol.
The
reverse of the Rs. 5/- coin. On the
upper periphery is mentioned “Bharat Sarkar Taksal Kolkata ke 60 Varsh” in
Hindi. On the lower periphery is mentioned “60 years of India Govt. Mint,
Kolkata” in English. The emblem of Security Printing and Minting Corporation of
India Limited (SPMCIL) of which the India Government Mint, Kolkata is a part
of, and which is also the emblem of IGM Kolkata is placed in the centre top
below the inscription in Hindi, below which is an image of the building of the
Alipore Mint. Further below are mentioned the commemorative years “1952-2012”. The "diamond" mint mark of the Mumbai mint appears below the years "1952-2012".
The
specifications of this coin are:
Shape: Circular; Diameter: 23 mm; No. of serrations: 100; Weight: 6.0 gms; Metal Composition: Nickel Brass (Copper 75%, Zinc 20% and Nickel 5%).
Some titbits:
One
of the earliest known coins to have been minted in India was during the time of
Gautam Buddha in the 6th Century B.C. which was known as the
“Panchmark” or the “coin having five faces”.
During
the Mughal times, the silver coins were called the “dinars” and the gold coins
were called “Mohurs” and “Asharfis”.
The
term “rupee” is said to have originated from “raupiya”, meaning “silver”
(coin).
Posted
on 14.03.2015:
A Commemorative Coin
issued by the Hyderabad Mint, booked in August 2014, has been received by me today
from the Mint.
The cover of the album on
which is shown an image the Kolkata Mint as it stands today. On the top of the
album is mentioned “Smarak Sikka” in
Hindi and “Commemorative Coin” in English. Also mentioned on this cover is “Bharat Sarkar Kolkata ke 60 Varsh
1952-2012” (in Hindi) and “60 Years of India Government Mint Kolkata 1952-2012”
(in English). The wide range of products including coins and Bharat Ratna and Acts
of valour medals etc produced by the Kolkata Mint are displayed around the Mint
Building facade.
On the second page of the
album, inter alia, is a description of India Government Mint, Kolkata (1952-2012),
which is as follows:
“The India Government Mint,
Kolkata at Alipore was inaugurated by the Union Finance Minister, Sir C.D.
Deshmukh on 19th March 1952. In 2006, the Government of india
brought the Mint along with 8 units of Mints and Press under Securities Printing
and Minting Corporation of India Ltd. (SPMCIL) which is wholly owned by the
GOI. The Kolkata Mint is engaged in both Coinage and non-coinage activities. At
present in Kolkata Mint the production of coins of various denominations is to
the tune of 1600 million pieces per annum.
In non-coinage activity
the Kolkata Mint produces Medals in precious metals like gold, silver, nickel,
copper and their alloys. Kolkata Mint has been producing different
Commemorative and development oriented coins for the last several decades. It
has also worked as a centre for the issue of gold bars in exchange of unrefined
gold tendered by licensed dealers. This Mint has also been producing medals of
various types like the highest civilian medals like Bharat Ratna, Padma
Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padmashri, Gallantry Medals like Paramvir Chakra,
Mahavir Chakra, Vir Chakra, Sena Medals for Defence, Medals for Ministry of Home
Affairs, Commonwealth Games, Educational Institutions, Social Service etc.”
Obverse
of the Rupees Five Commemorative coin. In the Centre is
the Lion Capitol of Emperor Asoka with the legend “Satyameva Jayate” in Hindi
meaning “Truth always Prevails” which is the emblem of the Government of India.
On the left periphery is mentioned “Bharat” (in Hindi) and on the right
periphery is mentioned “India” (in English). The denomination of the coin
“Rs.5” is at the extreme bottom.
Reverse
of the Rupees Five Commemorative coin. In the centre is an
image of the present Kolkata Mint in Alipore. Below the image are the
commemoration years “1952-2012”. On the upper periphery is mentioned “Bharat Sarkar Taksal, Kolkata ke 60 Varsh”
in Hindi. On the lower periphery is mentioned “60 Years of India Govt. Mint,
Kolkata” in English. Above this inscription is
the “Star” mint mark of the Hyderabad Mint.
The specifications of this coin are:
Denomination: Rs. Five;
Metal Composition: Alloy Ni-Brass; Copper: 75%, Zinc: 20%, Nickel: 5%; Dimensions:
Diameter: 23 mm; Weight:6.00 gms.
Ramchandra Lalingkar has commented on 08.06.13:
ReplyDelete"It is very rare thing that Govt has taken out a Rs.60/- commemorative coin on a/c of Diamond Jubilee year of Kolkata Mint. Very interesting !
10 hours ago"
It is indeed so. The more amazing part is that the Kolkata Mint has raised its levels of customer service to a very high standard and are trying to reach world class standards of Commemorative coins delivery. The Bookings for these coins closed on 31.05.13 and my coin set was delivered to me on 05.06.13.
ReplyDeleteI have 5rupic 1952 to 2012 kolkata coin
ReplyDeleteI want to sell plz contct me 9808136999
Pagalman143@gmail.com
I Want Sikke
ReplyDeleteHi Parem,
DeletePlease leave your email address and Mobile number, so that interested Readers who want to sell coins may be able to contact you.
I have 5rupic 1952 to 2012 kolkata coin
ReplyDeleteI want to sell plz contct me . 7519353870 ,
Dear sir i have a old coin 1rupes indicating diamond on coin from 1990 so any person interested call me 9870189060
ReplyDeleteI want to visit old silver mint, what should I do?
ReplyDeleteI am giving here the contact numbers/email addresses etc of the present mint:
DeleteIndia Government Mint, Alipore,Kolkata , West Bengal - 700053
India
Tel: 91-033-24010132
Fax: 033-24010553
Email: calmint@spmcil.com
Web: https://igmkolkata.spmcil.com
You could contact them for details.
I have this coin
ReplyDeleteWhat could be the price?
Please check on eBay/similar sites for average quotes and arrive at a fair price.
Delete