Small Quarter Anna of George V in 1936

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George Frederick Ernest Albert, better known as King George V, reigned as King of the United Kingdom, the British Dominions, and Emperor of India from 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 became king following the death of his father, Edward VII. His reign was a period of considerable evolution in the coinage of British India, with changes in denominations, metallic composition, and minting practices reflecting the economic and administrative developments of the early twentieth century.

The Quarter Anna remained one of the principal copper denominations during George V's reign. It was struck in copper with a plain edge during the periods 1911-1914, 1916-1920, 1924-1931, and 1933-1936. Production was shared between the Calcutta and Bombay Mints, with the two issues distinguished by their mint marks. Calcutta Mint coins bear no mint mark, whereas Bombay Mint specimens can be identified by a raised dot positioned below the centre of the date on the reverse. The standard 1936 Quarter Anna was produced with an average diameter of approximately 25.5 mm, a thickness of about 1.4 mm, and a standard weight of around 4.85 grams.

An unusual 1936 Quarter Anna examined during this study exhibits several physical characteristics that differ from the official specification. The specimen carries no mint mark, corresponding to the recognised Calcutta Mint variety, and its obverse and reverse designs closely match those of the regular 1936 copper issue. However, the coin measures only 25.0 mm in diameter, has a reduced thickness of approximately 1.0 mm, and weighs 4.07 grams, making it significantly lighter and thinner than the standard circulation issue.

Another striking feature of this specimen is its golden-yellow appearance, suggesting that it may have been struck on a brass planchet rather than the standard copper blank. The colour is distinctly different from that of normal copper Quarter Annas, yet the design details, portrait, legends, and overall fabric closely resemble those of the official Calcutta Mint issue. The absence of the Bombay mint dot further supports its attribution to the Calcutta die variety rather than to a Bombay issue.

The combination of brass-like colour, reduced diameter, lower weight, thinner flan, and official Calcutta Mint design makes this coin an important candidate for further numismatic investigation. These characteristics cannot readily be explained by ordinary circulation wear or environmental alteration alone. A plausible explanation is that the specimen represents an Off-Metal Strike (OMS), produced when an official pair of dies struck a planchet composed of an unintended alloy. Alternatively, it may represent an experimental striking, a trial piece, or an exceptionally well-executed contemporary imitation.




I love to collect coins, specially British Indian coins

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