British Indian and Mughal Coins

Alexandrina Victoria, universally known as Queen Victoria , reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837 until her death in 1901 . Her remarkable 63-year reign , remembered as the Victorian Era , witnessed unprecedented industrial, scientific, political, and military transformation, alongside the rapid expansion of the British Empire. In the Indian subcontinent, her reign encompassed the transition from the administration of the East India Company to direct rule under the British Crown , making Victorian coinage one of the most historically significant and extensively studied series in British Indian numismatics. For numismatic purposes, the coinage of Queen Victoria is generally classified into four distinct periods. The first, 1840-1850 , is known as the Continuous Legend series of the East India Company, characterised by the uninterrupted legend VICTORIA QUEEN encircling the Queen's portrait. This was followed by the Divided Legend series ( ...

The English East India Company (EIC) gradually established its commercial and political influence in India during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Although the Company received permission from the Mughal Emperor Farrukhsiyar in 1717 to strike Mughal-standard coinage at the Bombay Mint , its early issues faithfully followed the established Mughal monetary tradition . These coins bore Persian inscriptions in the name of the reigning Mughal Emperor and did not display the Company's name in English. It was not until 1835 , during the reign of King William IV , that the East India Company introduced a unified coinage explicitly bearing the inscription "East India Company" in English. Consequently, any coin carrying the Company's English title together with dates significantly earlier than 1835 requires careful numismatic scrutiny. Among collectors, a distinctive group of copper tokens is frequently encountered bearing dates such as 1616, 1717, 1818, and 1839...

George Frederick Ernest Albert, better known as King George V , reigned as King of the United Kingdom, the British Dominions, and Emperor of India from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936 . Born during the reign of his grandmother, Queen Victoria , he was the second son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales , later King Edward VII. His reign witnessed significant political and economic developments across the British Empire, including major reforms to the Indian monetary system . Coins issued under George V remain among the most extensively collected British Indian series due to their diverse mint varieties, transitional designs, and occasional mint errors. The Four Annas denomination was introduced during George V's reign and was struck between 1919 and 1921 . These coins were manufactured in copper-nickel and produced at both the Calcutta and Bombay Mints . The denomination is easily recognised by its distinctive scalloped octagonal shape , plain edge , and official specification...

George Frederick Ernest Albert, universally known as King George V , reigned as King of the United Kingdom, the British Dominions, and Emperor of India from 1910 until 1936 . Born during the reign of his grandmother, Queen Victoria , he was the second son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales , who later became King Edward VII. The coinage issued during George V's reign occupies an important position in British Indian numismatics, as it combines traditional imperial symbolism with refined minting techniques and includes numerous die varieties that continue to attract scholarly attention. The One Rupee was the principal silver denomination of British India during this period and was struck continuously from 1911 to 1922 . Production was shared between the Calcutta and Bombay Mints from 1911 to 1920 , while only the Bombay Mint continued striking the denomination in 1921 and 1922 . The coin was manufactured in silver with a reeded (milled) edge , a standard weight of approximately 1...

George Frederick Ernest Albert , better known as King George V , reigned as King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 1910 until his death in 1936 . Born during the reign of his grandmother, Queen Victoria , he was the second son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII). His reign encompassed a period of major political and economic change, including the First World War and significant reforms in the administration of British India. The coinage issued under George V is regarded as one of the most extensively studied series of British Indian numismatics owing to its numerous mint varieties, die modifications, and transitional issues. The Silver One Rupee remained the principal denomination of British India during the early years of George V's reign. It was struck from 1911 to 1922 , with production shared between the Calcutta and Bombay Mints from 1911 to 1920 , while only the Bombay Mint produced the denomination during ...

Albert Frederick Arthur George, better known as King George VI , reigned as King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 1936 to 1952 . He was the last Emperor of British India , holding the imperial title until the dissolution of the British Raj in August 1947 , and later became the first Head of the Commonwealth following the London Declaration of 1949 . Coinage issued during his reign represents the final and most technologically advanced phase of British Indian numismatics , reflecting wartime economic pressures, changes in metallic composition, and progressive modifications in minting techniques. The One Rupee remained the principal denomination of British Indian silver coinage throughout George VI's reign and was struck at the Calcutta, Bombay, and Lahore Mints . Depending upon the year of issue, the coin was produced in 0.917 fine silver , 0.500 fine silver , and finally nickel . Standard specifications ranged from 11.33 to 11.66 grams in...

Albert Frederick Arthur George, better known as King George VI , was the last Emperor of British India , retaining the imperial title until the dissolution of the British Raj in August 1947 . He reigned as King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 1936 to 1952 , a period marked by the Second World War, significant monetary reforms, and the final years of British administration in India. The coinage issued during his reign is of particular numismatic importance, reflecting both changes in metallic composition and advancements in minting technology. The One Rupee remained the principal circulating denomination throughout the George VI series and was struck at the Calcutta, Bombay, and Lahore Mints . Depending on the year of issue, the coin was produced in 0.917 fine silver , 0.500 fine silver , and finally nickel . Standard silver issues generally weighed between 11.33 and 11.66 grams , with diameters ranging from 30.4 to 30.7 mm , while the smaller ...

Albert Frederick Arthur George, better known as King George VI , reigned as King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 1936 until 1952 . He was also the last Emperor of British India , holding the imperial title until the dissolution of the British Raj in August 1947 , when India and Pakistan gained independence. The coinage issued during his reign represents the final phase of British Indian numismatics and documents the transition from traditional silver currency to base-metal coinage during the economic pressures of the Second World War and the closing years of colonial administration. The One Rupee remained the principal silver denomination throughout most of George VI's reign and was struck at the Calcutta, Bombay, and Lahore Mints . Depending on the year of issue, the coin was produced in 0.917 fine silver , 0.500 fine silver , and finally nickel . Standard silver issues generally weighed between 11.33 and 11.66 grams , with a diameter ra...

Albert Frederick Arthur George, universally known as King George VI , reigned as King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 1936 to 1952 . He was also the last Emperor of British India , retaining the imperial title until the dissolution of the British Raj in August 1947 , when India and Pakistan achieved independence. The coinage issued during his reign represents the final chapter of British Indian numismatics, reflecting both wartime economic constraints and the transition from precious-metal coinage to base-metal issues during the closing years of colonial administration. The Half Rupee was one of the principal circulating denominations of the George VI series and was produced at the Calcutta, Bombay, and Lahore Mints . Throughout the reign, the denomination underwent several important changes in composition, edge design, and reverse type. Early issues were struck in 0.917 fine silver , followed by 0.500 fine silver during the wartime years, ...

The Bengal Presidency , originally established as the Presidency of Fort William , was the most influential administrative division of the British East India Company and later the British Empire in India. At the height of its territorial extent, it governed vast regions extending across present-day Bangladesh, eastern and northern India, as well as parts of modern Pakistan and Myanmar. Calcutta , developed around the strategic Fort William, served as the capital of the Bengal Presidency and functioned as the administrative heart of British India for much of the nineteenth century. Until the transfer of the imperial capital to Delhi in 1911, the Governor-General of Bengal, who frequently also held the office of Viceroy of India, exercised authority from Calcutta, making the city the political and commercial centre of the subcontinent. Ali Gohar , better known by his imperial title Shah Alam II , was the seventeenth Mughal Emperor and the son of Emperor Alamgir II. He ascended the Mugh...