Thick Two Annas of George V in 1919

George Frederick Ernest Albert, widely known as King George V, reigned as King of the United Kingdom, the British Dominions, and Emperor of India from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother, Queen Victoria, he was the second son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and was not originally expected to inherit the throne. His reign witnessed significant developments in the coinage of British India, including changes in metallic composition, coin design, and minting technology that reflected the economic and political circumstances of the early twentieth century.

The Two Annas denomination underwent a major transformation during George V's reign. From 1911 to 1917, it was struck in 0.917 fine silver and retained the traditional circular form. Owing to increasing silver prices and wartime economic conditions, the denomination was redesigned in 1918 and thereafter produced in copper-nickel. The new issue adopted a distinctive rectangular shape with rounded corners and a plain edge, making it one of the most recognizable denominations in the British Indian coinage. Both the silver and copper-nickel issues were struck at the Calcutta and Bombay Mints, with Calcutta coins bearing no mint mark, while Bombay pieces were identified by a raised dot beneath the Telugu inscription on the reverse.

The 1919 copper-nickel Two Annas represents the second year of the rectangular series and conforms to a standard specification of approximately 5.66 grams in weight with a thickness of about 1.5 mm. According to the principal references on British Indian coinage, including standard catalogues and specialized studies, only the Calcutta Mint produced this denomination in 1919, and consequently all official issues were struck without a mint mark. This makes the date relatively straightforward from the standpoint of mint attribution, as no officially documented Bombay Mint variety is known.

An unusual specimen, however, presents characteristics that differ significantly from the recorded standard. The examined coin, illustrated in the accompanying photographs, weighs 7.59 grams, considerably exceeding the official specification, and has a measured thickness of approximately 2.1 mm, making it substantially heavier and thicker than a regular 1919 issue. Despite these physical differences, the coin carries no mint mark, consistent with the documented Calcutta Mint issue. Detailed examination further reveals that the inscriptions and numerals are engraved in a noticeably thicker style than those observed on ordinary Calcutta specimens, suggesting the use of a different die or an alternative manufacturing process.

The combination of an official design, Calcutta-style mint attribution, substantially increased weight and thickness, and unusually bold lettering makes this specimen an important subject for further numismatic investigation. Such characteristics are inconsistent with the standard circulation issues recorded in the literature and may indicate an experimental strike, trial striking, off-standard planchet, or an unofficial manufacture intended to imitate the genuine coin. Comprehensive die comparison, metallurgical analysis, and examination of the planchet characteristics would be required to determine its exact origin. Regardless of its final classification, this exceptional 1919 Two Annas represents a noteworthy variety that contributes to the ongoing study of British Indian copper-nickel coinage and demonstrates that previously undocumented anomalies may still exist within this well-researched series.