Unusual Three-Star Mark Above the Head of Queen Victoria on the 1840 Rupee
Alexandrina Victoria, known historically as Queen Victoria , reigned from 1837 to 1901, a period that saw the British Empire expand significantly in political, industrial, scientific, and military influence. Indian coinage issued in her name is customarily divided into four phases. 1840–1850: Continuous Legend issues of the East India Company , bearing the uninterrupted inscription VICTORIA QUEEN above the portrait. 1850–1860: Divided Legend issues, where the obverse legend VICTORIA and QUEEN is split by the bust. 1862–1876: Imperial issues under Crown administration; dates expressed by bead-marks from 1862–1874, with fully dated coins beginning in 1874. 1877–1901: Empress issues following the conferral of the title Empress of India in 1876. During the East India Company period, rupees were struck at Calcutta , Bombay , and Madras . The obverse design varies distinctly between the two early types: the Continuous Legend...