British Indian and Mughal Coins

George Frederick Ernest Albert, better known as King George V , reigned as the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions , and served as Emperor of India from May 6, 1910, until his passing in 1936. Born during the era of his grandmother Queen Victoria, he was the second son of Albert Edward, the then Prince of Wales . The One Anna coin issued during the reign of King George V represents an important period in the numismatic history of British India . Minted between 1911 and 1936, these coins reflect both the evolution of British imperial design and the transition in India’s coinage system during the early twentieth century. The obverse of the coin features the effigy of King George V, accompanied by the legend “ GEORGE V KING EMPEROR .” This portrait, rendered with fine detail, symbolized British authority in India. The reverse typically displays the denomination “ ONE ANNA ” within a decorative floral or geometric border, along with the year of issue and the word...

Albert Frederick Arthur George, better known as King George VI , ruled over the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 1936 to 1952. His reign witnessed a transformative era in world history, marked by war, reconstruction, and the gradual decline of British imperial power. George VI also held the title of the last Emperor of British India , a role that ended in August 1947 with the dissolution of the British Raj and the emergence of India and Pakistan as independent nations. The One Anna coin from the era of King George VI stands as a numismatic relic of the final decade of British rule in India. Minted between 1938 and 1947, this coin marks a blend of imperial authority and evolving Indian identity. Composed mainly of nickel-brass , it bears on its obverse the left-facing effigy of King George VI, encircled by the legend “ GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR .” The reverse displays the value “ ONE ANNA ” beautifully inscribed in English, Persian , and Hindi , fra...

William Henry , more widely remembered as William IV , reigned as the final King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and simultaneously as King of Hanover from 26 June 1830 until his death in 1837. The third son of George III , his relatively short reign nonetheless left a lasting imprint on British India ’s monetary system. Among the most significant issues from his rule is the Quarter Rupee coin , a landmark in the history of Indian numismatics . Struck under the authority of the East India Company (EIC), this coin symbolized the introduction of a uniform currency system in 1835 , an effort to bring order to the patchwork of regional coinages across the EIC territories. The William IV Quarter Rupee was primarily issued in 1835, though many of these coins remained in circulation for several years afterward, continuing to serve as a trusted medium of exchange. Struck under the authority of the East India Company during William IV’s reign, the coin reflects the Comp...

The man known to history as King George VI , born Albert Frederick Arthur George , ruled the British Empire from 1936 to 1952. His tenure was a period of global conflict and profound transformation, marked most significantly by his status as the final Emperor of India . When the British Raj concluded in August 1947 , splitting the subcontinent into two independent states, the era of this grand title came to a close. The Half Rupee coin issued during his reign is a miniature chronicle of this turbulent time. As Britain grappled with the economic strains of World War II and its aftermath, the very makeup of the coin changed dramatically: starting with high-grade 0.917 silver , dropping to 0.500 silver during the war to conserve precious metal, and finally, switching entirely to Nickel in 1946 . These coins, minted across the three key centers of Calcutta , Bombay , and Lahore , maintained a consistent size (around 24 mm) and weight (between 5.7 g and 5.9 g)...

Albert Frederick Arthur George, better known as King George VI , reigned as the King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death in 1952. He also held the historic title of the last Emperor of India , a position he retained until August 1947, when the British Raj came to an end with the partition of India and the birth of two independent nations. During his reign, the Half Rupee coin underwent notable variations in both metal composition and design, reflecting the economic and political transformations of the era. These coins were struck at the Calcutta , Bombay , and Lahore mints, in different alloys, 0.917 silver, 0.500 silver, and later Nickel, and maintained a standard weight ranging between 5.7 g and 5.9 g, with a diameter of approximately 24.0 mm to 24.4 mm. The edges of the coins also changed over time. From 1938 to 1940, and again in 1946–1947, the coins carried a reeded (milled) edge. However, between 1941 ...