Coins In Lucknow Mus. Vol 01 [56 MB - IndianCoins.org

63changing the form of the bullion imported at a gratuitous wastageand expense,' because it is evident that the conversion of thatbullion into coin was required for important public purposes but;it seems quite clear that this coinage may for the future beconducted at the Calcutta and Bombay mints without leading toany material inconvenience, and at a great paving of expense tothe State. Such an arrangement has become still more desirablethan ever from this circumstance, of which you probably are aware,that the machinery of the new Calcutta and Bombay mints (theerection of which has occasioned such a large outlay of money)was fabricated upon a scale sufficient to enable those two mintscombined to supply the whole of the coinage necessary for BritishIndia, and the present coinage at the new Calcutta mint is notby any means so extensive as to employ the powers of which themachinery is capable. In addition to the facts stated by theCalcutta mint as above referred to, we observe by a more recentaccount received from you that the value of the coinage in yourmint, which had fallen in the years 1825 1828 to an average of 42lakhs of rupees, was in 1828-29 not quite 27 lakhs, and in 1829-30was little more than 22 lakhs."In obedience to the orders of Government, in consequence ofthis letter, the Madras Mint Committee called on the mercantilecommunity, both European and Native, requesting the former tostate " whether, in the event of the accommodation which the minthas heretofore afforded being withdrawn, it would, in their opinion,affect the commercial interest of the Madras Presidency, and, if so,in what manner and to what extent. The native merchants wererequested to state whether they thought the abolition of themint would injure the trade of the port, and in what manner andto what extent." The concurrent opinion of the entire mercantilecommunity, with the exception of Messrs. Parry, Dare and Co.,was that very serious injury would be done to the commercialinterests of the presidency by abolishing the mint, and the MintCommittee came to the conclusion that " the existence of the mintis essential to the interests of the public that its continuance is;inseparably connected with the prosperity of this settlement, andnecessary to the due administration of its finances ; and, should itbe abolished, and Government should find it expedient to re-establishit, such a measure would be attended with much expense anddifficulty, arising from the dispersion of the present establishmentand the impracticability hereafter to collect them again in thepublic service, or to find properly qualified persons to supply theirplace."In 1834 pattern rupees were struck, bearing the following 1834.devices and legends:1. Obverse. Bust of the King (William iv) r, and legendGULIELMUS. mi. D.o. BKiTT. EX. iND. REX. surrounded by & wavyline.Reverse. In the centre ONE RUPEE with lotus flower above,and date 1834 below, surrounded by a wreath; around EAST INDIACOMPANY, and the value in Persian, Nagari, and Bengali.(pi. xx-7.)