How to Identify the East India Company Two Mohurs
Diagnostics for the 1835 EIC gold two mohurs: William IV portrait, lion-and-palm reverse, size and weight, and fake cautions.
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Check the obverse portrait and date. A genuine piece shows William IV as a left-facing bare-head profile bust, engraved in crisp neoclassical relief, with the date 1835 present. The lettering should be even and sharp, and the field flat and clean between the raised devices. A crude, soft, or lumpy portrait is a warning sign.
Read the reverse denomination. The reverse carries a lion positioned before or beneath a palm tree, with the words 'TWO MOHURS' and 'EAST INDIA COMPANY' lettering. The denomination text is the single most important diagnostic: coins of the identical design reading 'ONE MOHUR' or a rupee value are lower denominations, not the two mohurs.
Verify size, weight, and metal. The two mohurs is a substantial gold coin weighing on the order of about 23 grams, roughly double a single mohur, and noticeably larger in diameter. Weigh and measure the piece and test the metal; a coin that is underweight, undersized, pale, or magnetic is not a genuine gold two mohurs. Specific-gravity testing helps confirm gold fineness.
Beware look-alikes and reproductions. This type is among the most heavily copied of all British India coins. Cast copies (grainy, soft detail, seam lines), gilt base-metal fakes, and later restrikes are widespread, and some replicas are sold openly as souvenirs. Compare rim beading, relief sharpness, and weight against reference images, and treat any example without independent certification as unproven. For a coin of this value, insist on authentication by a recognized grading service or a specialist in East India Company coinage before relying on any price.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to tell it from a one-mohur coin?
Read the reverse denomination and weigh it. The two mohurs states 'TWO MOHURS' and weighs about twice a single mohur, near 23 grams, and is larger in diameter.
My coin looks right but feels light. What does that mean?
Incorrect weight is a major red flag. Genuine gold two mohurs pieces sit close to the ~23 gram standard; a light or undersized coin suggests a base-metal or gilt copy rather than a genuine strike.
Are all lion-and-palm gold coins two mohurs?
No. The lion-and-palm reverse appears on Company gold of this era across denominations. Only the piece reading 'TWO MOHURS' at the correct size and weight is the double-mohur.
Should I get it authenticated?
Yes. Given the coin's high value and the volume of copies and restrikes, professional authentication by a recognized grading service or specialist is strongly advised before assigning any value.