Information about mint: East India Company (modern)

The original East India Company (EIC) was an English and later British joint-stock company founded in 1600. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia), and later with Qing China. The company ended up seizing control of large parts of the Indian subcontinent, colonised parts of Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, and maintained trading posts and colonies in the Persian Gulf Residencies. It was dissolved by the East India Stock Dividend Redemption Act 1873.

In 2010, The East India Company was established, bearing the same name and using the original merchant mark as its logo, as a luxury multi-faceted brand once again trading in tea, coffees and fine foods. The company issued a limited edition series of Gold Mohur medals featuring the iconic Lion and Palm Tree design, minted by The Royal Mint.

Since 2012, the company mints coins in partnership with the Issuing Authority of St Helena and with the Royal Approval of Queen Elizabeth II. The original company had been awarded the right to fortify the Island of St Helena in 1657.

On some coins, the East India Company has the letters E·I·C for mint mark.

Letters EIC, clockwise, separated by tall crosses.

When the East India Company was chartered by Elizabeth I, Queen of England in 1600 it was still customary for each merchant or Company of Merchant Adventurers to have a distinguishing mark which included the mystical "Sign of Four" and served as a trademark. The East India Company's mark was made up from the initials EIC within a heart shape, crested with a 4. The letters are within a saltire (diagonal cross).

On some coins, The East India Company does not use a mint mark (usually because the full name of the company is part of the inscription).