Reeded Edge Rupee of George VI in 1943
Albert Frederick Arthur George was the last Emperor of India of the British Raj until August 1947, when the British Raj was dissolved. He was the king of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 1936 to 1952. He was familiar as George VI.
During the period of George VI, One Rupee was minted in Calcutta, Bombay and Lahore with 91% silver and 50% silver and Nickel. Edge of these Rupees were initially reeded edge and later a security edge. Standard weight was from 11.33 to 11.66g. Diameter was 30.4mm to 30.7mm from 1938 to 1945 and 28mm on 1947. It was found from different sources that reeded edge was on 1938, 1939, 1942, 1944 and 1945; and security edge was from 1939 to 1945 and 1947. There was no mint mark for Calcutta. The Bombay issues have a small dot or diamond on the reverse under the ornate (the lotus flower) near the bottom of the coin. The Lahore mint used a small "L" in the same position. When the composition switched to Nickel in 1946 a completely different reverse (an Indian tiger) was introduced.
On 1943, only Bombay mint Rupees were documented in different sources. It was mentioned in the book of Gev Kias and Dilip Rajgor that two varieties of Bombay mint were found with regular and large 3 with security edge for both. But I found reeded edge Bombay mint rupee of 1943 as below photos. Diameter was 30.5mm and thickness around 2.2mm. But weight was 12.4g, while weight of regular varieties is 11.6g. It can be noted that, weight of reeded edge was not mentioned separately in any references. Reeded edge Bombay mint Rupees were mentioned from 1938 to 1945, except 1943. Therefore, this reeded edge Rupee of 1943 can be useful for further study. It can be noted that, no major variation found in this Rupee except edge and weight of 1943 (regular 3)! In a security edge, there has a small gap in the middle of the edge but reeded edge does not have that! Though there has no major visual difference between those regular security edge and reeded edge rupees, therefore the additional metal of the reeded edge can be the reason for slightly higher weight!
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