Arabic/Indian Coin - Silver ? (Id: 1899 Ad India, Princely State Of Hyderabad Rupee)

I don't know much about them, but I believe it's a Mughal rupee. If that's the case, it should be roughly 20-26 mm in diameter and 11 g (about the same as a US half dollar or a bit heavier than a 2 euro coin).

What's throwing me off is how many numbers are on the coin. In the first picture, I see 92 at the top and 13 at the bottom. In the second, I see 33 at the top and 051 at the bottom- possibly part of the date AH 1051. I'm not finding any matches for that date, though.

Thank you for the kind welcome to your forum and for the incredibly quick replies.

So my thoughts on Arabic and India were on track.

Indeed it is a fun fact for me to have a date for it.

As you will see from my photographs the coin is slightly ovoid and varies from 23mm to 24.6mm. The thickness overall is 3mm. I have not yet obtained a precise weight as I do not have immediate access to a suitable balance, but I think that 11 grams would be about right.

The edges of the coin look very roughly cut, as if someone had pared off a little silver at some time in the 57 years before I found it. I believe this practice is not uncommon although the silver thus gleaned could not have been worth much.

There is a fairly precise square hole in one face - is this significant or just historical vandalism ?

I was jesting on the matter of value as I did not expect it to be worth a great deal even in simple silver terms I doubt if it would be worth more than about 7 euros, say $8. However I would seriously like to be sure that it really is worth very little.

It is however worth a lot to me simply due to its personal provenance and I had in mind to have it put into a suitable setting and made into a pendant for my wife. Although in doing so I would not wish the coin to be damaged by, for example, drilling holes in it, I would probably want to remove the tarnish. And I know that this absolutely verboten amongst the cognoscenti in numismatic circles. So any observations on the value would be of, er.great value.

Thank you again.

Tony.

Not at all! It is okay to ask about value as long as you are not offering it for sale at this time (we have specific Buy/Sell/Trade Rules here).

Hopefully someone will be able to give you an idea on its value.

The punchmark on the surface is called a test mark or shroff mark. This is where a shopkeeper used a punch to penetrate the surface and make sure it was pure silver and not just plated. These are very common and actually contribute evidence of authenticity.

"....I have wondered about that FOR 60-odd years...."

Good morning Mr Bacchus.

Thank you for the information on value. Now I can turn the coin into a pendant with a clear conscience - that I am not devaluing something rare and priceless.

Once again my thanks to all who have so kindly given me information.