Gold Scott Pagoda, 3.38g, ND, Negapatnam Mint, Obv: standing Deity with upraised arms, Rev: Granulated field. Extremely fine, extremely rare.
This issue is said to have been struck under authority of a Captain Scott of Tanjore after the British captured Negapatam in 1781. They thus became known as "Scott's Pagoda" or Iskat-Pagoda. The obverse crude representation of a single standing deity is derived from the Negapatam issues of the Dutch struck after 1662, which in itself is derived from a Vijayanagar prototype. Pridmore did not recognise the type but is known as the Iskat-Pagoda. Some scholars believe this coins strucked by Travancore King Martand Varma.