An Unusual 1876 Queen Victoria One Rupee from the Calcutta Mint

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Alexandrina Victoria, widely known as Queen Victoria, ascended the British throne in 1837 and reigned until her death in 1901. Her 63-year reign, commonly known as the Victorian era, witnessed profound industrial, political, scientific, and military transformations, alongside the remarkable expansion of the British Empire. In the Indian subcontinent, this period also represents a fascinating chapter in numismatic history, as coinage evolved alongside changes in colonial administration, imperial authority, and minting practices.

The 1876-dated Queen Victoria One Rupee is particularly interesting for collectors who focus on mint identification and die varieties. Two commonly discussed types are distinguished by the presence or absence of a raised dot above the tip of the lower flower on the reverse.

During my examination of the 1876 Queen Victoria One Rupee, I came across an intriguing specimen attributed to the Calcutta Mint (A-I variety). What caught my attention were two distinctive features:

  • Reverse: The letter ‘U’ in the inscription appears slightly tilted compared with the expected alignment.
  • Obverse: The portrait of Queen Victoria, particularly the area below the ear, appears comparatively thin.

The combination of these two characteristics makes this specimen especially interesting from a numismatic perspective.




I love to collect coins, specially British Indian coins

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