HALF ANNA

1/2 Anna (Two Pice)

I)      Issues under the Company. 1835 – 1858

Specifications

Years of issue – 1835, 1845

Metal composition –  Copper 100%

Weight –  200 grains (12.96 gms)

Shape –  Circular

Diameter – 1.21” (30.73 mm)

Edge – unmilled plain

Obv –  Coat of Arms of East India Company – a crossed shield with two supporting lions on either side, and one on the top, flanked by two Union Jacks. A scroll below the shield bore the Company’s motto in Latin ‘AUSP: REG: SEN: ANG’ , which stood for Auspigio Regis et Senatus Anglie, meaning the Auspicious Reign and English Senate. The year of issue was shown on the bottom.

Rev – On the center, the denomination of the coin is indicated in both English and Persian, encircled by a laurel. The legend, “EAST INDIA COMPANY” appears at the top periphery.

Minted at – Bombay(1835), Madras(1835), Calcutta(1845)

Km Number – # 447

Note: This coin is also found in sizes of 29.5 mm, 30.5 mm and 31.5 mm.

II)     Issues under the Crown. 1858 – 1947

A.   ‘VICTORIA QUEEN’ (1858 – 1876)

Specifications

Years of issue – 1862, 1875, 1876

Obv –  Crowned bust of Victoria Queen, with legend ‘VICTORIA’ on left periphery and QUEEN ’ on right periphery.

Rev – An ornamental circular wreath encloses the value of coin ‘HALF ANNA’ in two lines in English, with ‘INDIA’ and year of issue shown below. Value in Persian is not shown.

Minted at – Bombay(1862), Calcutta(1862, 1875, 1876), Madras(1862)

Km Number – # 468

          All other specifications same as previous issue.

Note : Mint of issue of the copper coins issued during this period cant be correctly attributed.

B.   ‘VICTORIA EMPRESS’ (1877 – 1901)

Specifications

Year of issue – 1877

Obv –  Crowned bust of Empress Victoria, with legend ‘VICTORIA’ on left periphery and ‘EMPRESS ’ on right periphery.

Minted at – Bombay, Calcutta

Km Number – # 487

          All other specifications same as previous issue.

C.   King George VI. (1939 - 1947)

i) In Nickel - Brass

Specifications

Years of issue – 1942 to 1945

Metal composition –  Nickel-Brass (79% Copper + 20% Zinc + 1% Nickel)

Weight –  grains (2.91 gms)

Shape –  Square with rounded corners

Size – 17.4 x 19.8 mm

Edge – unmilled plain

Obv – Legend ‘GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR’ around the Crowned head of King George  VI.

Rev – The reverse face is divided into five parts by placing four ‘{‘ (curly brackets). The value of the coin is shown in 5 languages – ‘AN½NA’ in English at the center, in Persian at top, in Hindi at left, in Bengali  at right and in Telugu at bottom. The date of issue appears below the value numeral ‘½’.

Minted at – Bombay(1942), Calcutta(1942 to 1945)

Km Number – # 534

Note :

i). Mint Marks: -

a) Bombay Mint – Dot before and after ‘INDIA’(1942),

b) Calcutta Mint – No mint mark.

           

ii) In Copper - Nickel

Specifications

Years of issue – 1946 to 1947

Metal composition –  Cupro Nickel alloy(75% Copper + 25% Nickel)

Minted at – Bombay(1946 to 1947), Calcutta(1946 to 1947), Lahore(1946)

Km Number – # 535

          All other specifications same as previous issue.

Note :

i). Mint Marks: -

a) Bombay Mint –Dash Dot Dash(- . -) on both sides of date(1946 – 1947).

b) Calcutta Mint – Dash on both sides of date(1946 – 1947).