HALF RUPEE (8 ANNAS)

HALF RUPEE (8 ANNAS)

(A) - Issues under the Company. 1835 – 1858

i). ‘WILLIAM IIII KING. (1835 – 1837)

This coin was first issued on 1^st September, 1835.

Specifications

Years of issue – 1835

Metal composition –  Silver (11/12^th fineness– i.e. 11/12^th  of pure silver + 1/12^th of alloy.)

Weight –  90 grains (1/2 Tola) (5.83 gms)

Shape –  Circular

Diameter – 0.95” ( 24.1 mm)

Edge –Upright milled

Obv –  Effigy of William IV with legend ‘WILLIAM’ on left periphery and ‘IIII, KING.’ on right periphery.

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. The year of issue is shown on the bottom.

Minted at – Bombay, Calcutta

Km Number – # 449

Note:

i)               On Mint of issue – During this period, no mint mark was applied on any coin to indicate the mint of issue. The initials of mint masters in microscopic letters were stamped on the gold and silver coins at the truncation of the royal head. These initials helped to identify the product of different mints. These initials are --- F (incused or raised), RS incused, No initial.

F (incused or raised) – Calcutta mint issue – (‘F’ stood for Major General William Forbes, Master of Calcutta Mint) 

R.S incuse – Madras mint issue – (‘R.S’ stood for Robert Saunders, Master of Madras Mint)

No initial – Bombay mint issue

ii). ‘VICTORIA QUEEN’ – First Series – Continuous Legend (1837 – 1858)

Specifications

Years of issue – 1840

Size – 24.4, 24.7 mm

Obv –  Uncrowned head of Victoria Queen with Continuous legend ‘VICTORIA QUEEN ’ on top periphery over her head.

Minted at – Bombay, Calcutta, Madras

Km Number – # 455

All other specifications same as previous William IV issue.

Note:

i ) On Mint of issue –

S incuse – Madras mint issue – (Robert Saunders, Master of Madras Mint)

No initial – Bombay or Calcutta mint issue

iii). ‘VICTORIA QUEEN’ – Second Series –– Divided Legend (1837 – 1858)

Specifications

Years of issue – 1840

Obv –  Uncrowned head of Victoria Queen, with legend written in two parts, ‘VICTORIA’ to the left of royal head and ‘QUEEN ’ to the right.

Minted at – Bombay, Calcutta,  Madras

Km Number – # 456

All other specifications same as previous issue.

Note:

i ) Mint of issue –

WWB, BWW – Bombay mint issue

No initial or WW incuse – Calcutta mint issue

WWS, SWW – Madras mint issue

(B)       Issues under the Crown. 1858 – 1947

i). ‘VICTORIA QUEEN’ (1858 – 1876)

Specifications

Years of issue – 1862, 1874 to 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 RUPEE’ in two lines in English, with ‘INDIA’ and year of issue shown below. Value in Persian is not shown.

Minted at – Bombay(1862, 1874 to 1876), Calcutta(1862, 1875),  Madras(1862)

Km Number – # 472

All other specifications same as previous issue.

ii). ‘VICTORIA EMPRESS’ (1877 – 1901)

Specifications

Years of issue – 1877 to 1889, 1892 to 1894, 1896 to 1899

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

Minted at – Bombay(1877, 1881, 1882, 1884 to 1889, 1892 to 1894, 1897 to 1899), Calcutta(1877 to 1889, 1892 to 1894, 1896 to 1899)

Km Number – # 491

            All other specifications same as previous issue.

iii). King Edward VII. (1901 - 1910)

Specifications

Years of issue – 1905 to 1910

Obv –  Uncrowned head of Edward VII, with continuous legend ‘EDWARD VII KING AND EMPEROR’ written on the periphery.

Rev – Royal Crown shown on the top. Denomination in English and Persian in the center. Date at the bottom, flanked by sprays on both sides.

Minted at – Bombay(1906, 1907, 1910), Calcutta(1905 to 1910)

Km Number – # 507

            All other specifications same as above previous issue.

Mint mark:

Bombay issue – From 1905 t0 1906 -- A small incuse ‘B’ is found at base of the king’s crown on the obverse and a small dot is seen on the stem of the bottom lotus bud in the right hand spray. From 1906, the incuse ‘B’was removed.

Calcutta issues --  No mint mark.

iv). King George V. (1910 - 1936)

a)    Silver Issue

Specifications

Years of issue – 1911 to 1919, 1921 to 1930, 1933, 1934, 1936)

Obv –  Legend ‘GEORGE  V KING EMPEROR’ around the Crowned bust of King George  V.

Rev – A floral circular wreath encloses the value of coin ‘HALF RUPEE’ in English and Persian. Year of issue is shown above Persian inscription.

Minted at – Bombay(1912 to 1914, 1916 to 1919, 1922 to 1926, 1928, 1936), Calcutta(1911 to 1916, 1921 to 1927, 1929, 1930, 1933, 1934, 1936)

Km Number – # 521, 522

            All other specifications same as Edward Siver Half Rupee issue.

Note:

i). Mint Marks: -

a) Bombay Mint – Dot below lower flower design on reverse.

b) Calcutta Mint – No dot present.

b)    Cupro – Nickel Issue

Specifications

Years of issue – 1919, 1920

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

Weight –  120 grains (7.77 gms)

Shape –  Circular

Diameter – 1.03” (26.2 mm)

Edge – Plain

Obv –  Legend ‘GEORGE  V KING EMPEROR’ around the Crowned bust of King George  V.

Rev – The value ‘8 ANNAS’ with the date of issue in English is shown inside a scalloped octagon which is placed on a square with two lines. Value in Persian is shown on the top, in Hindi on the left, in Telugu on the bottom and in Bengali on the right periphery.

Minted at – Bombay(1919, 1920), Calcutta(1919)

Km Number – # 520

Note:

i). Mint Marks: -

a) Bombay Mint – Dot below Telegu inscription.

b) Calcutta Mint – No dot present.

v). King George VI. (1936 - 1947)

a)    Silver Issue

Specifications

Years of issue – 1938, 1939

Edge – Milled

Obv –  Continuous legend ‘GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR’ on outer periphery around the crowned head of King George VI.

Minted at – Bombay(1938,1939), Calcutta(1939)

Km Number – # 549, 550

            All other specifications same as previous King George V Silver issue.

Note :

i). Mint Marks: -

a) Bombay Mint – Diamond/Dot below bottom flower on reverse.

b) Calcutta Mint – No mint mark.

b)    Quaternary Alloy (50% Siver)

Specifications

Years of issue – 1940 to 1945

Edge – Milled (1940), Security(1941 to 1945)

Minted at – Bombay(1940 to 1945), Calcutta(1940), Lahore(1943 to 1945)

Km Number – # 551, 552

            All other specifications same as previous issue.

Note :

i). Mint Marks: -

a) Bombay Mint – Diamond/Dot below bottom flower on reverse.

b) Calcutta Mint – No mint mark.

             c) Lahore Mint --  ‘L’ below bottom flower on reverse.

c)    Nickel Issue

Specifications

Years of issue – 1946, 1947

Edge – Milled

Rev – A stalking tiger appears in the center with ‘INDIA’ and the date of issue, is shown below it. The value ‘HALF RUPEE’ in Hindi, English and Persian appears around the periphery.

Minted at – Bombay

Km Number – # 553

            All other specifications same as previous issue.

Note :

i). Mint Marks: -

a) Bombay Mint – Dot below date.