Rupee of George V in 1919 Without Dot in Indian Lotus

George Frederick Ernest Albert, universally known as King George V, reigned as King of the United Kingdom, the British Dominions, and Emperor of India from 1910 until 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother, Queen Victoria, he was the second son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII. The coinage issued during George V's reign occupies an important position in British Indian numismatics, as it combines traditional imperial symbolism with refined minting techniques and includes numerous die varieties that continue to attract scholarly attention.

The One Rupee was the principal silver denomination of British India during this period and was struck continuously from 1911 to 1922. Production was shared between the Calcutta and Bombay Mints from 1911 to 1920, while only the Bombay Mint continued striking the denomination in 1921 and 1922. The coin was manufactured in silver with a reeded (milled) edge, a standard weight of approximately 11.6 grams, and a diameter ranging from 30.5 to 30.8 mm. Mint identification followed the established convention of British Indian coinage: Bombay Mint issues bear a raised dot beneath the lower floral ornament on the reverse, whereas Calcutta Mint coins carry no mint mark. Another characteristic feature of the reverse design is the Indian lotus at the bottom of the floral wreath, which normally contains a small raised central dot as an integral part of the engraved design.

The specimen examined here is a 1919 Calcutta Mint One Rupee that presents an unusual combination of characteristics. The coin measures approximately 30.5 mm in diameter, consistent with the official specification, but its recorded weight is 11.2 grams, noticeably lighter than the standard issue. Despite the reduced weight, the coin exhibits no evidence of excessive circulation, clipping, or post-mint alteration that would readily account for the difference, suggesting that it may have been struck on a slightly underweight planchet.

The most significant feature of this specimen is found on the reverse. Unlike normal 1919 Rupees, the central dot within the Indian lotus is entirely absent. Careful examination indicates that this is not the result of wear, polishing, or die filling, as the surrounding floral details remain well defined. The omission appears to originate from the die itself, indicating either an engraving omission, a defective punch, or a previously unrecorded reverse die variety.

Apart from the missing central lotus dot and the lower-than-standard weight, the obverse, reverse legends, portrait, and reeded edge correspond closely with those of the regular 1919 Calcutta Mint Rupee. No additional differences in lettering, ornamentation, or die alignment have been observed, suggesting that the anomaly is confined to the lotus motif alone.

If confirmed through comparative die analysis and the examination of additional specimens, this coin may represent a previously undocumented reverse die variety of the 1919 Calcutta Rupee. The combination of an underweight planchet and the absence of the central lotus dot provides valuable evidence for the study of die preparation and quality control at the Calcutta Mint during the George V period. Such discoveries contribute to a more comprehensive classification of British Indian Rupees and highlight the continuing potential for identifying new varieties within one of the most extensively collected coin series of the British Empire.