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Border Bead Variation on the 1862 Quarter Anna of British India

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Alexandrina Victoria, better known to history as Queen Victoria , ruled the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign, lasting more than six decades, gave its name to the Victorian Era , a transformative age defined by rapid industrial growth, major political reform, scientific advancement, and expanding military power. During this time, Britain strengthened its global influence, and the British Empire reached an unprecedented scale, shaping world affairs, trade, and culture for generations. The 1862 British India Quarter Anna (Victoria Queen) is a copper fractional coin struck during the early years of Crown rule following the 1857 transfer of power. Featuring the crowned left-facing bust of Queen Victoria on the obverse with the legend VICTORIA QUEEN , the reverse displays the denomination ONE QUARTER ANNA and the year 1862 within a beaded circle and wreath. The typical official specifications list a diameter of approximately 25.5 m...
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Obverse Inscription Anomaly in a Rupee of William IV: A Preliminary Note

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William IV , born William Henry, was the last monarch to rule as King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland as well as King of Hanover , reigning from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837 . He was the third son of George III . During his reign, the East India Company issued silver rupees bearing the date 1835 , which are known today in several distinct varieties. In addition to these officially dated issues, numismatic evidence also points to the existence of an exceptionally rare rupee dated 1840 carrying his name. Furthermore, rotation errors observed on rupees from William IV’s period are relatively well documented and frequently encountered among surviving specimens. The silver rupee issued in the name of William IV represents one of the most distinctive coinages of the East India Company period. Although William IV reigned from 1830 to 1837, the standard rupee bearing his name is dated 1835 and exists in multiple varieties, reflecting differences in lettering, ...
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The Lower-Weight Rupee of 1945 under George VI

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George VI was the last Emperor of India during British rule, holding the title until the dissolution of the British Raj in August 1947 . He reigned as King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 1936 to 1952. Born Albert Frederick Arthur George, his reign coincided with a period of major political and monetary transition. Throughout his rule, One Rupee coins were struck at the Calcutta , Bombay , and Lahore mints using varying compositions, including 0.917 silver , 0.500 silver , and nickel . Early issues featured a reeded (milled) edge, which was later replaced by a security edge . Between 1938 and 1945 , the rupee maintained a standard weight ranging from 11.33 g to 11.66 g, with diameters between 30.4 mm and 30.7 mm. In 1947, the diameter was reduced to 28 mm, reflecting changes in coinage standards. The edge treatment evolved over time: coins minted in 1938 and 1939 retained a milled edge , while the security edge was adopted from 1939 ...
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The Big Three of 1893: A Numismatic Study of the British Indian One Rupee

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Queen Victoria ’s reign ( 1837–1901 ) produced one of the most studied and sought-after coinages of British India . For collectors, her coinage is traditionally classified into four distinct phases, each defined by clear changes in legend style, portrait, and administrative authority. 1. 1840–1850: Continuous Legend ( East India Company ): The earliest Victorian issues feature a youthful bust encircled by the uninterrupted inscription VICTORIA QUEEN . The smooth, flowing legend and refined engraving of this period make these coins especially appealing, with several early die varieties attracting specialist interest. 2. 1850–1860: Divided Legend (East India Company): In this phase, the portrait breaks the legend, placing VICTORIA on one side of the bust and QUEEN on the other. Though subtle, this modification marks a key transitional style and is a primary diagnostic feature for identifying mid-century issues. 3. 1862–1876: Imperial Coinage (Crown Administration): Following the t...
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A Petite One-Rupee Coin from the Year 1890

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Queen Victoria , who ruled from 1837 to 1901 , left behind one of the most fascinating and collectible coin series in the history of British India . Her long reign is divided into four major coinage eras, each with distinct designs that help collectors identify and categorize coins. 1. 1840–1850 : Continuous Legend ( East India Company ): These early Victorian coins show a young portrait with the words VICTORIA QUEEN written in one smooth, unbroken circle around the bust. Collectors appreciate this era for its elegant engraving and early die varieties. 2. 1850–1860 : Divided Legend (East India Company): Here, the portrait interrupts the legend, VICTORIA appears on one side and QUEEN on the other. This simple change creates an important variation for identifying mid-century issues. 3. 1862–1876 : Imperial Coinage ( Crown Rule ): After the British Crown took direct control in 1858 , a new uniform series began in 1862 . Although these coins all show the same date, “1862,” diffe...
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Unusual Three-Star Mark Above the Head of Queen Victoria on the 1840 Rupee

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Alexandrina Victoria, known historically as Queen Victoria , reigned from 1837 to 1901, a period that saw the British Empire expand significantly in political, industrial, scientific, and military influence. Indian coinage issued in her name is customarily divided into four phases. 1840–1850: Continuous Legend issues of the East India Company , bearing the uninterrupted inscription VICTORIA QUEEN above the portrait. 1850–1860: Divided Legend issues, where the obverse legend VICTORIA and QUEEN is split by the bust. 1862–1876: Imperial issues under Crown administration; dates expressed by bead-marks from 1862–1874, with fully dated coins beginning in 1874. 1877–1901: Empress issues following the conferral of the title Empress of India in 1876. During the East India Company period, rupees were struck at Calcutta , Bombay , and Madras . The obverse design varies distinctly between the two early types: the Continuous Legend...
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Thick and Thin '1' Varieties in 1936 One Anna of George V

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George Frederick Ernest Albert, better known as King George V , reigned as the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions , and served as Emperor of India from May 6, 1910, until his passing in 1936. Born during the era of his grandmother Queen Victoria, he was the second son of Albert Edward, the then Prince of Wales . The One Anna coin issued during the reign of King George V represents an important period in the numismatic history of British India . Minted between 1911 and 1936, these coins reflect both the evolution of British imperial design and the transition in India’s coinage system during the early twentieth century. The obverse of the coin features the effigy of King George V, accompanied by the legend “ GEORGE V KING EMPEROR .” This portrait, rendered with fine detail, symbolized British authority in India. The reverse typically displays the denomination “ ONE ANNA ” within a decorative floral or geometric border, along with the year of issue and the word...
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The Large and Small ‘4’ Varieties in the 1940 One Anna Coin of George V

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Albert Frederick Arthur George, better known as King George VI , ruled over the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 1936 to 1952. His reign witnessed a transformative era in world history, marked by war, reconstruction, and the gradual decline of British imperial power. George VI also held the title of the last Emperor of British India , a role that ended in August 1947 with the dissolution of the British Raj and the emergence of India and Pakistan as independent nations. The One Anna coin from the era of King George VI stands as a numismatic relic of the final decade of British rule in India. Minted between 1938 and 1947, this coin marks a blend of imperial authority and evolving Indian identity. Composed mainly of nickel-brass , it bears on its obverse the left-facing effigy of King George VI, encircled by the legend “ GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR .” The reverse displays the value “ ONE ANNA ” beautifully inscribed in English, Persian , and Hindi , fra...
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Numismatic Insights into the Exceptional William IV Quarter Rupee

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William Henry , more widely remembered as William IV , reigned as the final King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and simultaneously as King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III , his relatively short reign nonetheless left a lasting imprint on British India ’s monetary system. Among the most significant issues from his rule is the Quarter Rupee coin , a landmark in the history of Indian numismatics . Struck under the authority of the East India Company (EIC), this coin symbolized the introduction of a uniform currency system in 1835 , an effort to bring order to the patchwork of regional coinages across the EIC territories. The William IV Quarter Rupee was primarily issued in 1835, though many of these coins remained in circulation for several years afterward, continuing to serve as a trusted medium of exchange. Struck under the authority of the East India Company during William IV’s reign, the coin reflects the Comp...
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The Rare Copper Half Rupee of George VI: A 1943 Numismatic Legacy

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The man known to history as King George VI , born Albert Frederick Arthur George , ruled the British Empire from 1936 to 1952. His tenure was a period of global conflict and profound transformation, marked most significantly by his status as the final Emperor of India . When the British Raj concluded in August 1947 , splitting the subcontinent into two independent states, the era of this grand title came to a close. The Half Rupee coin issued during his reign is a miniature chronicle of this turbulent time. As Britain grappled with the economic strains of World War II and its aftermath, the very makeup of the coin changed dramatically: starting with high-grade 0.917 silver , dropping to 0.500 silver during the war to conserve precious metal, and finally, switching entirely to Nickel in 1946 . These coins, minted across the three key centers of Calcutta , Bombay , and Lahore , maintained a consistent size (around 24 mm) and weight (between 5.7 g and 5.9 g)...
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