Mir Mahbub Ali Khan Asaf Jah VI, Pattern Rupee in Copper, 10.05g, most likely produced with equipment and dies supplied by the Birmingham Mint, AH 1305 / RY 21 ( = 22 July – 7 Sept 1888), Obv: Full name of the Nizam with date – Nizam ul-Mulk Mir Mahbub Alikhan Asaf Jah Bahadur 92 with AH date at the bottom, Rev: Mint name Farkhanda Bunyad Haidarabad with RY in usual ‘Julus’ formula (KM# 32.1). Very fine, exceedingly rare. The mechanization of the Nizam’s mint at Haidarabad began with acquiring the machinery from the Madras mint, which closed in 1869. However, for a long period the process of machine striking coins did not take effect. A number of attempts were made to launch a regular currency for which patterns were made. A full account of these attempts is found in Jan Lingen’s survey in JONS 153 (1997). The 1305 pattern issues were most likely made from equipment imported from Birmingham. The specimen illustrated by Lingen is of a good strike quality and was most likely produced at Birmingham. However, this piece evidently shows some striking flaws and die shifts so it is likely that it was produced using the old Madras machinery in Haidarabad mint.