An Unusual Dot Arrangement on the 1907 King Edward VII Bombay-Mint Rupee: A Numismatic Investigation

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Albert Edward commonly known as King Edward VII was the elder son of Queen Victoria. He ascended the throne after her death on 1901. The Edward VII series of coins of India are dated from 1903 to 1910. The Rupee of King Edward VII was minted in both Calcutta and Bombay. There was no mint mark for Calcutta, but the Bombay issues had a small incuse "B" (the 1903 Rupee also had a raised "B" variety). The incuse "B" mint mark is too small to see, but there is a second, more prominent mark, a "dot" on the stem of the lotus-bud (lower right on reverse). According to the book of D. Chakravarty, "Coins of India", this was intentional. He said, "Since the 'dot' itself was found adequate to distinguish the products of the mint, and there was no need to have a conspicuous mint-mark, as an incuse 'B', from 1906 onward there was apparently an attempt to erase the 'B', but not very successfully." Various traces of the 'B' may be seen but use the 'dot' on the lotus-bud stem to identify the mint.

One Rupee of King Edward VII was minted in both Kolkata and Delhi. Although no variation found in the Kolkata mint one Rupee from my observations. Below figure shows Kolkata mint one Rupee.


Figure: Kolkata mint one Rupee


But some major variation found in Bombay mint one Rupee. Followed by bottom dot alignment at Reverse side.


Bombay mint one Rupee contain regular dot pattern, five and two dots at bottom, as shown in below figure. Also similar pattern dot with Kolkata mint one Rupee.

Figure: Bombay mint five and two dots at bottom

Some another specimen of Bombay mint one Rupee I found having five and two dots at bottom but two dots are not straight horizontal, as shown in below figure. Also, upper dot of two dots was comparatively small.

Figure: Bombay mint five and two dots at bottom but two dots are not straight

And another interesting Bombay mint one Rupee found with four and one dots at bottom as shown in below figure.

Figure: Bombay mint four and one dots at bottom









I love to collect coins, specially British Indian coins

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