The French coinage in India

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The French also got some settlements in India, after the creation in 1666 by Jean-Baptiste Colbert of the "Compagnie des Indes Orientales". Their first settlement was established in Surat in 1668, followed by Chandernagore in Bengal in 1673. The most important was Pondichery, on the eastern coast (Coromandel coast), purchased in 1674. Mahe, located on the Malabar coast, was founded in 1725, Yanam and Karaikal, both on the Coromandel coast, respectively in 1731 and 1739. All the French enclaves were handed over to India in 1954 and constitute since the "Union Territory of Pondicherry".

Map of Pondichery from 1741

NOTE: all the coins, even the Mughal style rupees bearing "Arcot" as mintplace, were struck in Pondichery

In the name of Ahmad Shah Bahadur
(Arcot rupee with crescent, 1166 AH, regnal year 6), Pondichery, 1752 AD
silver, 11.48 g, 24 mm
rupee

In the name of Alamgir II
(Arcot rupee with crescent, 1167 AH, regnal year 1), Pondichery, 1753 AD
silver, 11.07 g, 23 mm
rupee

In the name of Shah Alam II
(Arcot rupee with crescent, 1190 AH, regnal year 15), Pondichery, 1776 AD
silver, 11.15 g, 24 mm
rupee

Mahe, 1750 (struck in Pondichery)
On the obverse, "Kumpini-i Frans", "French Company";
on the reverse, "Sanah 1750 Pulichiri P", "Year 1750 Pondichery P"
silver, 2.25 g, 14 mm
1 fanon