Small Rupee of George V in 1914

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 succeeded to the throne following the death of King Edward VII. His reign witnessed major developments in the coinage of British India, although the One Rupee remained one of the most important silver denominations, maintaining a high standard of craftsmanship and uniformity throughout its production.

The One Rupee was struck between 1911 and 1922, with production shared between the Calcutta and Bombay Mints from 1911 to 1920. In the final two years of the series, 1921 and 1922, production was confined exclusively to the Bombay Mint. These rupees were struck in 0.917 fine silver, featuring a milled edge, an average weight of approximately 11.66 grams, and a diameter ranging from 30.5 to 30.8 mm. Mint attribution is straightforward: Bombay Mint issues carry a raised dot beneath the lowest lotus flower on the reverse, whereas Calcutta Mint coins were struck without a mint mark.

An unusual 1914 One Rupee examined during this study differs significantly from the official specifications while retaining the general appearance of a genuine circulation issue. The specimen measures approximately 30.0 mm in diameter and weighs only 9.35 grams, making it around 2.3 grams lighter than the standard 1914 silver rupee. Despite the substantial reduction in weight, the coin displays no mint mark, corresponding to the recognised Calcutta Mint variety. Furthermore, the obverse portrait, reverse design, and milled edge closely resemble those of the official issue, making the coin visually convincing at first inspection.

The most striking characteristic of this specimen is the marked deficiency in weight, which cannot be attributed to normal manufacturing tolerance. Although prolonged circulation can reduce a coin's mass through wear, a loss of more than 2 grams is exceptionally uncommon for a silver rupee, particularly when the principal design elements remain well preserved. Similarly, the slight reduction in diameter does not adequately explain the extent of the weight difference, suggesting that factors other than ordinary wear may be responsible.

Several explanations may account for these unusual characteristics. The specimen may have been struck on an underweight planchet, produced as an experimental or off-standard striking, or manufactured as a contemporary counterfeit using a lower-density silver alloy or debased metal while carefully reproducing the official dies.

Regardless of its ultimate classification, this lightweight 1914 George V One Rupee represents an intriguing numismatic anomaly. Its combination of correct design, Calcutta Mint characteristics, reduced diameter, and substantially lower weight makes it a valuable subject for further investigation. If additional specimens with identical physical and die characteristics can be documented, this coin may represent a previously unrecorded variety, an experimental striking, or a contemporary counterfeit, thereby contributing important new evidence to the study of British Indian silver rupees under King George V.