| Product
Code |
: |
PUD NO_761-1 AR |
| Subject | : | Pondicherry Taken |
| Size | : | 40 mm |
| Metal | : | Silver |
| Year | : | 1761 |
| Description | : | obv. Head of George III, right. Encircled by : GEORGE - THE - THIRD. Signed : T.P.F., rev. Between two urns and palm trees, Victory is standing making inscription on a shield containing names : COOTE STEEVENS. On her left is INDVS, and right : GANGES. Encircled by : TOTAL - EXPVLSION - OF - THE - FRENCH - FROM – INDIA. In exergue : PONDICHERRY TAKEN / MDCCLXI (1761).
Note the flaw on the reverse resulting in a flattened border in places obliterating the circle of beads. This occurs, to a much lesser extent, on the obverse also. Both the silver and copper medals exhibit this flaw due to a defective die.
Like no. 757.1 produced by the Society Promoting Arts and Commerce. The French formed trading companies to promote trade with India in the early seventeenth century but started to think seriously about an Indian Empire in the 1660s. The Dutch ousted them from St. Thome, forcing retirement to Pondicherry, in 1674. Except for a four-year period, when lost to the Dutch in the 1690s. Pondicherry remained their base for expanding power in southern India. Established by Martin; other able governors were Dumas and Dupleix. French power in South India had many triumphs and setbacks until the incident commemorated by this medal when the combined forces of Sir Eyre Coote and Commodore Charles Stevens captured Pondicherry in January 1761. Although the Treaty of Paris restored Pondicherry to the French in 1763, their power had been broken and they never again contended on equal terms with the English in India. |
