Unlike Quarter Anna of King Edward VII in 1906

Albert Edward, better known as King Edward VII, became the Emperor of British India on 22 January 1901, following the death of Queen Victoria, whose reign had shaped the British Empire for more than six decades. As King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the British Dominions, Edward VII presided over a relatively short yet historically significant era. The coinage issued in British India during his reign, spanning 1903 to 1910, reflects the transition from the Victorian period to the Edwardian era and remains an important field of study for numismatists due to its numerous die varieties, transitional issues, and minting anomalies.

Among the lower denominations, the Quarter Anna occupies a notable position within the Edward VII series. Throughout his reign, this denomination was struck exclusively at the Calcutta Mint, making mint attribution straightforward compared with several higher denominations. The coinage underwent a significant metallurgical transition during 1906, when the composition changed from copper to bronze. Quarter Anna coins dated 1903-1906 were initially produced in copper, while issues from 1906-1910 were struck in bronze. Standard references generally describe the 1906 Quarter Anna as a bronze-only issue, with an average diameter of 25.3-25.5 mm, a weight ranging between 4.75 and 4.85 grams, a thickness of approximately 1.1 mm, and a plain edge. However, evidence from surviving specimens suggests that both copper and bronze Quarter Annas bearing the 1906 date exist, indicating that the transition between the two alloys may have been more complex than traditionally documented.

During my research, I examined an unusual 1906 Quarter Anna weighing 4.65 grams, noticeably below the standard weight range. The specimen measures approximately 25.2 mm in diameter, closely matching the dimensions of a regular circulation strike. What distinguishes this coin is its silvery surface appearance, giving the impression that the original copper core has either been coated with a silver-colored metallic layer or struck on an alloy containing an unusually high proportion of silver. Such an appearance is highly atypical for this denomination and immediately raises questions regarding its origin and method of manufacture.

A closer inspection reveals that the reverse exhibits minor damage and partial loss of several letters, indicating post-mint wear or mechanical abrasion. Although it is technically possible to apply a silver coating or polish to a copper coin, such treatment would generally be expected to increase rather than reduce the overall weight. The observed weight deficiency therefore cannot be explained solely by surface plating. Instead, the lower mass may have resulted from the physical loss of metal caused by the damage visible on the reverse, or it may point to an unusual planchet preparation or post-mint alteration. This remarkable specimen could contribute valuable evidence to the study of transitional 1906 Quarter Anna coinage and the manufacturing practices of the Calcutta Mint during the Edwardian period.