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Unusual Half Pice in 1903

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King Edward VII, the eldest son of Queen Victoria, ascended the throne in 1901 following her death on 22 January of that year. The Indian coinage bearing his portrait, known as the Edward VII series, was issued between 1903 and 1910. A notable feature of these coins is the uncrowned effigy of the king. Since the master dies were prepared before his coronation on 9 August 1902, his image appeared without the crown. The Half Pice issued under King Edward VII was among the smallest denominations in circulation during British India. Minted between 1903 and 1910, the coin marked the shift in design style that followed the end of Queen Victoria’s reign. On the obverse, it featured an uncrowned portrait of Edward VII, a distinctive trait of his coinage since the master dies were created prior to his coronation. The reverse side displayed the denomination in both English and vernacular scripts, encircled by a decorative wreath, along with the year of issue. Though carrying minimal value, e...
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One Rupee OMS of Bengal Presidency

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The Bengal Province of British India, formerly known as the Presidency of Fort William, was widely recognized as the Bengal Presidency. At the height of its authority, it encompassed vast regions that today form parts of both South Asia and Southeast Asia. The rupees of the Bengal Presidency were issued in both semi–machine struck and fully machine struck forms during the transition from traditional minting methods to modern industrial techniques. Semi–machine struck coins, produced in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, retained elements of hand striking but incorporated mechanical aids for improved uniformity. By the mid-19th century, fully machine struck rupees became standard, offering precise designs, consistent weights, and higher production efficiency, reflecting the technological advancement of the Bengal Presidency’s mints under British rule. The Bengal Presidency rupees, both semi–machine struck and fully machine struck were typically composed of silver with a finenes...
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Thick Outer Edge Rupee of George V in 1919 with Different Elephant

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  George V, born George Frederick Ernest Albert, served as the King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, as well as Emperor of India, from 1910 until 1936. He was born in the era of his grandmother, Queen Victoria, and was the second son of Albert Edward, the then Prince of Wales. During the reign of George V, Indian Rupees were minted between 1911 and 1922. From 1911 to 1920, coins were produced at both the Calcutta and Bombay mints, while in 1921 and 1922, minting continued only in Bombay. These coins featured milled edges and weighed approximately 11.6 grams on average. Their diameter ranged from 30.5 mm to 30.8 mm, and thickness around 1.9 mm. A distinct feature of the Bombay mint coins was a raised dot beneath the bottom flower, whereas Calcutta mint coins lacked this mark. On the reverse side, an Indian lotus appeared at the bottom, with a single dot positioned at the center of the lotus. I found a silver Rupee of 1919 with a dimension of 30.5mm and weight was...
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Thick Rupee of George V in 1913

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  George Frederick Ernest Albert, more widely recognized as King George V, ruled as the monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and also held the title of Emperor of India, from May 6, 1910, until his passing in 1936. Born while Queen Victoria, his grandmother, was on the throne, George V was the second son of Albert Edward, who later became King Edward VII. During the reign of King George V, Indian Rupee coins were issued between 1911 and 1922. From 1911 to 1920, minting took place at both the Calcutta and Bombay mints. However, in 1921 and 1922, production was limited to the Bombay mint alone. These coins featured a milled edge and had an average weight of approximately 11.6 grams. Their diameter typically ranged between 30.5 mm and 30.8 mm, and thickness around 1.9 mm. Interestingly, I came across a Rupee coin from the George V era that appears to differ slightly from standard specifications. The coin measures approximately 2 mm in thickness and weighs around ...
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A Rare 1947 OMS Half Rupee

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Albert Frederick Arthur George, known as George VI, was born on 14 December 1895 and reigned as King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his passing on 6 February 1952. He also held the title of Emperor of India until the British Raj came to an end in August 1947. During the reign of George VI, half rupee coins were produced at the mints in Calcutta, Bombay, and Lahore, featuring compositions that evolved over time—from 91.7% silver to 50% silver, and eventually to nickel. These coins typically weighed between 5.7 and 5.9 grams and measured approximately 24.0 to 24.4 mm in diameter. Initially, from 1938 to 1940 and again in 1946–1947, the coins featured a reeded (milled) edge, while from 1941 to 1945, a security edge was introduced. Calcutta-minted coins carried no mint mark, distinguishing them from those of Bombay and Lahore. Bombay issues are identifiable by a small dot or diamond beneath the lotus design on the reverse...
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Unlike Quarter Anna of King Edward VII in 1906

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  Albert Edward, widely known as King Edward VII, served as the Emperor of British India from January 22, 1901, until his passing in 1910. Simultaneously, he reigned as the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions. As the eldest son of Queen Victoria, he inherited the throne upon her demise in 1901. The Edward VII coin series in India was issued between 1903 and 1910. During his reign, quarter anna coins were exclusively minted in Calcutta. These coins were made of copper from 1903 to 1906 and transitioned to bronze from 1906 to 1910. Historical records indicate that the 1906 quarter anna was solely produced in bronze, featuring an approximate diameter of 25.3~25.5mm, a weight of around 4.75~4.85g, and a thickness of 1.1mm, with a plain edge. Both bronze and copper quarter rupee minted in 1906. I found a 1906 quarter anna weighing 4.65g, but it appears to have a silver-polished surface over copper coin, or mixed silver. Its dimensions are al...
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Rupee with Five Types 5 of George VI in 1945

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The final Emperor of India under British rule was George VI, reigning until the British Raj came to an end in August 1947. Serving as the King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, his reign spanned from 1936 to 1952. His full name was Albert Frederick Arthur George. During George VI’s reign, the One Rupee coin was minted in Calcutta, Bombay, and Lahore using 0.917 silver, 0.500 silver, and nickel. The coins featured a reeded edge initially, later transitioning to a security edge. From 1938 to 1945, the standard weight ranged between 11.33g and 11.66g, with a diameter of 30.4mm to 30.7mm, while in 1947, the diameter reduced to 28mm. The edge was milled in 1938 and 1939, and the security edge was adopted from 1939 to 1945 and in 1947. Calcutta coins had no mint mark, whereas Bombay coins displayed a small dot or diamond beneath the ornate lotus flower on the reverse side. Lahore coins featured a small "L" in the same position. In 1946, with the...
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Different Quarter Rupee of King Edward VII in 1906

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Albert Edward, known as King Edward VII, ruled as the Emperor of British India from January 22, 1901, until his death in 1910. Concurrently, he reigned as the King of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the British Dominions. He was the eldest son of Queen Victoria, inheriting the throne after her passing in 1901. During his reign, the Edward VII coin series in India was issued from 1903 to 1908 and 1910. It was minted in Calcutta from 1903 to 1908, and minted in Bombay in 1910. The quarter rupee was crafted from silver, weighing approximately 2.9 grams with a diameter between 19.3 and 19.6 mm. Its edge featured a milled design. I found a quarter rupee of 1906 with ghost error. A ghost error coin is a term used in numismatics to describe a coin featuring faint, blurred, or partially missing design details that give it a "ghost-like" appearance. These intriguing errors arise from various minting imperfections, such as weak strikes, deteriorated dies, or flaws in planchet prepar...
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One Rupee OMS of Shah Jahan-I

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Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram, famously known by his imperial title Shah Jahan, served as the fifth emperor of the Mughal dynasty, ruling from 1628 to 1658. His leadership marked the pinnacle of cultural magnificence within the empire. While he proved himself as a competent military strategist, Shah Jahan is most celebrated for his monumental contributions to architecture. His reign is often regarded as the golden era of Mughal architectural brilliance. Among the many magnificent structures he commissioned, the most iconic is the Taj Mahal in Agra, a breathtaking mausoleum built to honor the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. During the rule of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan I (1628–1658), the silver one-rupee coins, referred to as "rupiya," were distinguished by their artistic finesse and intricate inscriptions. These coins symbolized the opulence and cultural sophistication of the Mughal era. Key mints producing these coins were located in Agra—renowned for its connect...
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Large Rupee of Victoria Queen in 1840 with Low Weight

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Alexandrina Victoria, widely recognized as Queen Victoria, ruled as the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her passing in 1901. Her reign, famously dubbed the Victorian era, was a transformative period characterized by significant advancements in industry, politics, science, and military power. This era also saw the British Empire reach unprecedented levels of expansion and influence. During Queen Victoria's reign, coin mintages in India were classified into four distinct eras: Continuous Legend under the East India Company (1840–1850) : Coins from this period featured a continuous legend, with the inscription "VICTORIA QUEEN" running uninterrupted across the obverse, over the Queen's head. Divided Legend under the East India Company (1850–1860) : In this era, the inscription "VICTORIA QUEEN" on the obverse was split, separated by the Queen's head. Imperial Coinage under Crow...
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