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Auction: 4023 - English & Foreign Coins & Commemorative Medals (incl. Railway Medals)
Lot: 574

†India, East Indian Railway Company, opening of the line to Rajmahal, 1860, AV, 72.59 mm, 133.83 g, Calcutta Mint, diademed head of Queen Victoria left (by William Wyon), rev. the / east india railway / projected by / rowland macdonald stephenson, / geoge turnbull being chief engineer / was commenced in the xvth year of the reign of / victoria, / james andrew, marquis of dalhousie, k.t. / being governor general of india; / and was opened to rajmahal / in the xxivth year of the same gracious reign: / charles john earl canning.g.c.b. / being viceroy and governor general. / a.d.mdccclx.; around: prosper thou the work of our hands upon us: o prosper thou our handy-work; engraved on the edge the right honble sir charles wood b.t. g.c.b. secretary of state for india octr: 15th 1860 (Ps.xc.; Puddester 860.2 (Turnbull Reverse), but not in gold; cf. Swan cat. 399), small nick in field below the Queen's head, but practically mint state and extremely rare This piece appears to be unpublished in gold. It is presumably one of a very few specimens struck for presentation to important government officials on the occasion of the opening of the line to Rajmahal. Sir Charles Wood, first Viscount Halifax (1800-85), educated at Eton and Oriel College, Oxford. M.P. for Grimsby, 1826, Wareham, 1831, and Halifax, 1832-65, Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1846, Privy Councillor, 1846 and Secretary of State for India, 1859-66. He was responsible for the adaptation of the government of India and its finances following the dissolution of the East India Company. As Secretary of State for India, Sir Charles Wood was much involved with the extension of the railways in that country.

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£3,800