India Mohur and 1/4 Mohur Bengal Presidency Year 19 (Fakes are possible) 1768 to 1787

This beautiful gold mohur comes from the Bengal Presidency, which was a colonial region of the British Empire. It comprised areas which are now within Bangladesh, and the present day Indian States of West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya, Odisha and Tripura. Penang and Singapore were also considered to be administratively a part of the Presidency.

Mohur coins were issued with dates AH1182 (year 10 of the Presidency) to AH1202 (year 19). The 'AH' designation indicates Muslim dates, corresponding to Gregorian dated 1768AD to 1787AD. The quarter mohur coins are much smaller, carry dates of AH1182, AH1202, and AH1203, and have a ring of dots on the outside of the coin (see picture below). Mohurs weigh about 12 grams, 1/4 mohurs about 3 grams. There are other 1/4 mohurs from Bengal Presidency year 19, but these are dated AH1204, carry different inscriptions, and are worth quite a bit less than the coins shown on this page.

These are valuable coins, and each coin stands on its own merits. We can give general guidance of value, shown below.

The mohur shown in our main picture (upper left) is from Spink in London where it sold for 450 British pounds (about $650 US dollars) during a 2014 auction. Below are some typical catalog values for these coins. We thank Spink for use of their coin photo.

MOHUR (all dates)
worn: $450 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $800
well preserved: $1200

1/4 MOHUR (all dates)
worn: $100 US dollars approximate catalog value
average circulated: $400
well preserved: $800

For a little more insight into value, consider the large graphic below. The (A) coin is a 1/4 mohur in superb condition. This is probably a $1000 coin; wear would lower value substantially. The (B) coin is a very nice mohur, even nicer, and with more eye appeal than the one in our main picture (upper left). The blue arrow points to its AH1202 date. The (B) coin would probably sell for about $800 retail. Again, wear would cut that price in half. Close inspection of the (C) coin reveals un-natural surfaces, mushy (not sharp) inscriptions, and minor deviations in pattern. This is almost surely a counterfeit made of gold-colored base metal. A crook would try to sell it for $4000 and then let it go for the bargain price of $1200. It's value is about zero. Never buy valuable coins from someone you do not trust explicitly.

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