Border Bead Variation on the 1862 Quarter Anna of British India

Alexandrina Victoria, better known to history as Queen Victoria, ruled the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign, lasting more than six decades, gave its name to the Victorian Era, a transformative age defined by rapid industrial growth, major political reform, scientific advancement, and expanding military power. During this time, Britain strengthened its global influence, and the British Empire reached an unprecedented scale, shaping world affairs, trade, and culture for generations.

The 1862 British India Quarter Anna (Victoria Queen) is a copper fractional coin struck during the early years of Crown rule following the 1857 transfer of power. Featuring the crowned left-facing bust of Queen Victoria on the obverse with the legend VICTORIA QUEEN, the reverse displays the denomination ONE QUARTER ANNA and the year 1862 within a beaded circle and wreath. The typical official specifications list a diameter of approximately 25.5 mm, a weight near 6 g, and a plain edge, all in medal alignment. The metal composition is copper, consistent with contemporary fractional coinage. The 1862 Quarter Anna was struck at several major British India mints, each identifiable by subtle mint marks that distinguish different varieties. The Bombay Mint issue carries a small dot below the date and is considered one of the scarcer varieties due to its relatively lower mintage. Coins from the Calcutta Mint bear no mint mark and are generally more common. The Madras Mint variety, identified by a small pearl or specific mint symbol, is less frequently encountered but remains a recognized and documented issue among collectors.

A notable variety of the 1862 British India Quarter Anna has been observed with a visibly thicker outer rim than that seen on regular specimens of the same year. This pronounced border gives the coin a slightly more compact central appearance and makes the beaded circle appear set further inward. The recorded example has a weight of 5.85 g and a diameter of approximately 26 mm, which differ slightly from standard specifications, suggesting a possible die or striking variation rather than post-mint damage. Such rim thickness differences are of particular interest in die-study research and may indicate an unrecorded or less-documented mint variety within the 1862 issues.

According to the book Coins of British India 1835–1947 by Gev Kias and Dilip Rajgor, Reverse II is described as having a wreath design with a single leaf positioned below the center of the date, attributed to the Calcutta Mint. The catalogue lists several varieties of the 1862 copper coin. One variety was minted in Calcutta between 1862 and 1865 with no privy mark or mint mark, a diameter of 26.10–26.30 mm, Obverse Type A, and Reverse I. Two additional Calcutta issues from 1865 onward bear a tiny raised “V” privy mark but no mint mark, with diameters of 25.30–25.40 mm. Of these, one has Obverse A1 with Reverse I, while the other has Obverse B with Reverse II. Two more varieties were struck in Bombay between 1864 and 1866 with a tiny incused “V” privy mark. One of these has no mint mark, while the other carries a dot mint mark; both have diameters of 25.30–25.50 mm, Obverse A, and Reverse I. Another variety was minted in Madras from 1862 onward with no privy mark or mint mark, a diameter of 25.30–25.50 mm, Obverse A, and Reverse I. However, none of the listed varieties mention a thick outer edge, nor is such a feature visible in the reference photographs.