After Queen Victoria died
in 1901, her elder son, King Edward VII ascended the throne. The Edward VII
series of coins of India are dated 1903-1910. There are four silver coins
(Rupee, 1/2 Rupee, 1/4 Rupee and 2 Annas) and three copper coins (1/4 Anna,
1/2 Pice and 1/12 Anna). A cupro-nickel 1 Anna coin was introduced in 1906.
That same year the copper coins were replace by bronze issues with the same
obverse and reverse designs but with thinner plancet. The 1906 coins come in
both varieties of copper and bronze issues. The King Edward VII coins are
distinct as the head is uncrowned. The apparent explanation is, that when
Queen Victoria died on 22 January 1901, Edward's coronation was not held
till 09 August 1902. The master dies were created before the coronation, so
it was not possible to show him wearing the crown! On 05th December 1902, it
was announcement that from 1st January 1903 the new coins would be issued. It is reported that a new
portrait was prepared for 1910, but King Edward's died the same year. The
one Anna coin was introduced in 1906 and it does have a portrait of the King
wearing his crown.
KM#498 1/12 ANNA (Pie).
Weight: 1.64g.
Metal: Bronze.
Diameter:
17.5 mm. Edge:
Plain.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Kolkata (Calcutta).
Obverse: Date and denomination within
circle, wreath surrounds.
Reverse: Bust facing right
with legends "EDWARD VII KING AND EMPEROR".
Mintage Years:
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1907-1910.
Note:
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint issues have no mint mark.
Key date coin:
1903(C) with mintage: 7,883,044. KM#497 also exists in
Copper with Thick planchets dated 1903-1906.
KM#499 1/2 Pice.
Weight: 3.20g.
Metal: Copper.
Diameter:
21.0 mm. Edge:
Plain.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Kolkata (Calcutta).
Obverse: Date and denomination within
circle, wreath surrounds.
Reverse: Bust facing right
with legends "EDWARD VII KING AND EMPEROR".
Mintage Years:
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1903-1906.
Note:
Kolkata (Calcutta) mint issues, having no mint mark.
Key date coin:
1903(C) with mintage: 5,376,000. KM#500 also exists in
Bronze with Thinner planchets, dated 1906-1910.
KM#502 Quarter Anna.
Weight: 4.86g.
Metal: Bronze.
Diameter:
25.0 mm. Edge:
Plain.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint: Kolkata
(Calcutta).
Obverse: Date and denomination within
circle, wreath surrounds.
Reverse: Bust facing right with legends
"EDWARD VII KING AND EMPEROR".
Mintage Years:
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1906-1910.
Note:
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint issues have no mint mark. KM#501 also
exists in Copper with Thick planchets dated 1903-1906.
KM#504 One Anna.
Weight: 3.81g.
Metal:
Copper-Nickel. Diameter:
21.0 mm - 12 sided shape. Edge:
Plain.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay).
Obverse: Denomination and date within
decorative outline.
Reverse: Crowned bust facing right with
legends "EDWARD VII KING & EMPEROR".
Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1906-1910 (1905 probably available in Proof only).
Note:
Struck only at the Mumbai (Mumbai (Bombay)) Mint. Small incuse
“B” mint mark in the space below the cross pattee of the crown on the
obverse.
Key date coin:
1906(B) with mintage: 200,000.
Note: This is the only
King Edwards's Indian denomination coin that has the crown on the
head.
Two Annas
KM#505 Two Annas.
Weight: 1.46g.
Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
15.0 mm. Edge:
Plain.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint: Kolkata
(Calcutta).
Obverse: Crown above. Denomination in
English and Persian in center with date below. Wreath surrounds from both
sides.
Reverse: Bust facing right, DES in
relief below
with legends "EDWARD VII KING AND EMPEROR".
Mintage Years:
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1903-1910.
Note:
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint issues have no mint mark.
Note:
Key date coin with lowest mintage. Some
samples of 1910, shows "dot" on lotus stem, similar to the
Bombay mint mark on the Rupee coin.
Quarter Rupee
= Four Annas
KM#506 Quarter Rupee.
Weight: 2.92g.
Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
19.5 mm. Edge:
Reeded.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Kolkata (Calcutta).
Obverse: Crown above. Denomination in
English and Persian in center with date below. Wreath surrounds from both
sides.
Reverse: Bust facing right, DES in
relief below
with legends "EDWARD VII KING AND EMPEROR".
Mintage Years:
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1903-1910
(1909 dated coins are produced in proofs only).
Note:
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint issues have no mint mark.
Some samples of 1910, shows "dot" on lotus stem, similar to the
Bombay mint mark on the Rupee coin.
Half Rupee
= Eight Annas
KM#507 Half Rupee.
Weight: 5.83g.
Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
24.0 mm. Edge:
Reeded.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint: Mumbai
(Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta).
Obverse: Crown above. Denomination in
English and Persian in center with date below. Wreath surrounds from both
sides.
Reverse: Bust facing right
with legends "EDWARD VII KING AND EMPEROR".
Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1906-1907 and 1909-1910
+ Kolkata
(Calcutta):
1904-1910.
Note:
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint issues have no mint mark.
Mumbai (Bombay) Mint issues have a small incuse “B” in the space below the
cross pattee of the crown.
Key date coin:
1906(B) with mintage: 400,004.
KM#508 Rupee.
Weight: 11.66g.
Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
31.0 mm. Edge:
Reeded.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta).
Obverse: Crown above. Denomination in
English and Persian in center with date below. Wreath surrounds from both
sides.
Reverse: Bust facing right
with legends "EDWARD VII KING AND EMPEROR".
Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1903-1910 (1903 contains the B in incuse and in relief types) +
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1903-1910.
Note:
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint issues have no mint mark.
Mumbai (Bombay) Mint
issues have a small bud on the right floating stem with various mint marks
in the crown.
The below information is based on my
collection of King Edward's one Rupee coins. I have categorized them
into five types from A to E. All Kolkata (Calcutta) mint coins are of one
type: Type E.
Diamond shape on the floating right stem.
Type A: Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay). "B" mark incuse below the cross
pattee of the crown and DIAMOND shape on the right floating stem.
Dated: 1903 coins only. 1903 also have "B" in relief in the crown as
well.
Type B: Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay). "B" mark in the space below the
cross pattee of the crown and BUD shape on the right floating stem.
Dated: This type of incuse "B" are found on 1904, 1905 and 1907 only.
Type C: Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay). "B" mark in the space below the
cross pattee of the crown and BUD shape on the right floating stem.
Dated: This type of raised "B" are found on 1906-1909 coins. Sometime the B
in the crown seems like two dots (smaller dot above the larger one).
Type D: Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay). DOT mark in the space below the
cross pattee of the crown and BUD shape on the right floating stem.
Dated: This type of DOT is found only in 1910 coins.
Type E: Mint:
Kolkata (Calcutta). No mark in the space below
the cross pattee of the crown and no bud on the right floating stem.
Dated: 1903-1910.
Year:
1903.
Weight: 11.44g.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay).
Mintage: 52,969,151.
Type A.
"B" mark incuse below
the cross pattee of the crown and probably diamond shape on the right
floating stem. 1903 dated coin also have "B" in relief in the crown
as well. Mintage includes for both types. It comes with and without
dot on stem.
Surprisingly in the above
coin there is a small dot besides 3 in the date as shown.
