French India, Pondicherry, Struck In The Name Of Shah Alam Ii (1764-1807 Ce) With An Arcot Mint Signature, Silver Rupee With Shroff Marks(Vf)

Eager to emulate the coin minting priviliges of their British rivals in India, who were already striking Mughal style rupees, the French obtained, at a great price, a concession to do so from the Mughal vassal, the Nawab of Arcot. These examples have shroff marks or bankers / cashiers marks, from contemporary testing of the coins metal with a small sharp tool. Counterfeiting was commmonplace enough to prompt coin users to routinely test the quality of the silver by exposing the subsurface layers of the coin.