At his death, William IV
had no surviving legitimate children, though he was survived by eight of the
ten illegitimate children he had by the actress Dorothea Jordan, with whom
he cohabited for 20 years. William was succeeded in the United Kingdom by
his niece, Victoria. Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22
January 1901) was born at Kensington palace in London on 24 May 1819. She
started the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 01 May 1876, she used the
additional title of Empress of India. Victoria was the only child of Prince
Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the fourth son of King George III and
Victoria Maria Louisa of Saxe-Coburg. Both
the Duke of Kent and the King George III died in 1820, and Victoria was
raised under close supervision by her German-born mother Princess Victoria
of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. She inherited the throne at the age of 18 after her
father's three elder brothers died without surviving legitimate issue. The
United Kingdom was already an established constitutional monarchy, in which
the Sovereign held relatively few direct political powers. Privately, she
attempted to influence government policy and ministerial appointments.
Publicly, she became a national icon, and was identified with strict
standards of personal morality. She married her first cousin, Prince Albert
of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, in 1840. Their 9 children and 26 of their 34
grandchildren who survived childhood married into royal and noble families
across the European monarchy continent, tying them together and earning her the nickname "the
grandmother of Europe". After Albert's death in 1861, Victoria plunged into
deep mourning and avoided public appearances. As a result of her seclusion,
republicanism temporarily gained strength, but in the latter half of her
reign, her popularity recovered. Her Golden and Diamond Jubilees were times
of public celebration. Her reign of 63 years and 7 months, which is longer
than that of any other British monarch and the longest of any female monarch
in history, is known as the Victorian era. It was a period of industrial,
cultural, political, scientific, and military change within the United
Kingdom, and was marked by a great expansion of the British Empire. She was
the last British monarch of the House of Hanover; her son and successor King
Edward VII belonged to the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
After the Indian Mutiny in 1857, the government of
India was transferred from the East India Company to the Crown and in 1877,
Victoria became Empress of India. Her empire also included Canada,
Australia, India, New Zealand, and large parts of Africa. The coins issued
after 1840 bore the portrait of Queen Victoria. The first coinage under the
crown was issued in 1862 and in 1877 Queen Victoria assumed the title the
Empress of India.
Legend: "Queen
Victoria" on British India coins from 1862-1876.
Half Anna
KM#468 Half Anna.
Weight: 12.88g.
Metal: Copper.
Diameter:
30.50 - 31.30 mm. Edge:
Plain.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata
(Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras).
Obverse: Date and denomination "HALF ANNA INDIA" with date below, all within a dotted circle. Wreath surrounds.
Reverse: Crowned bust facing left with
legends "QUEEN VICTORIA".
Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1862
+
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1862 and 1875-1876
+
Chennai (Madras): 1862.
Note:
1862 dated issues were struck at all three mints using
Obverse A and Reverse I (A/I). They may be attributed according to size.
Later 1862 dated Calcutta issues use Bust B and Reverse II (B/II). The
designations of Bust A, B and C have been changed to correspond with
designations in “Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations Part 4, Vol.
2” by F. Pridmore.
Key date coin:
1875(C) with mintage: 1,145,600.
Distinguishing
features of mints:
BUST
Bust A -
Front of dress has 4-1/2 panels with no flowers on bottom incomplete
panel.
Bust B -
Front of dress has 4 panels (having just slightly small decoration
below 4th panel) with a small flower at upper left and large flower
at right on bottom panel. Floral design of dress differs from Bust
A. Tiny raised v on bottom left of bust.
Bust C -
Front of dress has 4-3/4 panels with a single flower in center of
bottom incomplete panel. An enlarged bust with floral design similar
to Bust B.
DESIGN OF DATE SIDE
REVERSE I
- Slant top 1 in date and narrow spaced “ANNA”.
REVERSE II
- Flat top 1 in date and wide spaced “ANNA”.
MINT
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint
- Diameter 31.3 mm.
1862 Type A Bust, Type 1 Reverse.
1862 Type B Bust, Type II Reverse.
1862 Type C Bust, Type II Reverse.
1875 Type B Bust, Type II Reverse.
1876 Type B Bust, Type II Reverse.
Issues from 1877 onward are Type
C/II. 1877 Calcutta issues also have short, wide 7's in
date. 1879 Calcutta issues have a tiny incuse “C” on a bead
of the inner circle below the center of the date.
Mumbai (Bombay) Mint
- Diameter 30.5 mm.
1862 Type A Bust, Type I Reverse.
Issues from 1877 onward are Type
B/II. 1877 Bombay issues also have tall, narrow 7's in date.
This type 7 appears on most Bombay issues but not on any
denomination of the Calcutta Mint.
Madras (Chennai) Mint
- 1862 Type A Bust, Type I Reverse. Diameter 30.7 mm.
Note: Diameter:
30.5 mm. Type Bust A with Reverse type I (Slant top of 1 in
date).
Two Annas
KM#469 Two Annas.
Weight: 1.46g.
Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
15.0 mm. Edge:
Plain.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata
(Calcutta) and Chennai (Madras).
Obverse: Denomination in English "TWO
ANNAS INDIA" in center with date below. Wreath surrounds.
Reverse: Crowned "Bust A" facing left with legends
"QUEEN VICTORIA".
Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1862 and 1874-1876
+
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1862 and 1874-1876
+
Chennai (Madras): 1862 (differentiated through size).
Key date coin:
1875(B) with mintage: 1,712,000.
Distinguishing
features of mints:
BUST
Bust A -
Front of dress has 4 panels. The bottom panel has 3 leaves at left
and a small flower at upper right.
Bust B -
Front of dress has 3-1/2 panels. The bottom incomplete panel has
only 3 leaf tops.
DESIGN OF DATE SIDE
REVERSE I
- Large top flower; 2 large petals above the base of the
top flower are long and curved downward.
REVERSE II
- Small top flower; 2 large petals above the base of the top
flower are short and horizontal.
MINT
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint
- Issues dated 1862-1878 are 15.3-15.4 mm in diameter and
have no mint mark. From 1879 the mint mark is a tiny incuse “C” on
the whorl below the center of the bottom flower. The 1877 issue with
a bead in the tip of the top flower is attributed to Calcutta based
on its diameter of 15.4 mm.
Mumbai (Bombay) Mint
- Issues dated 1862-1876 are 15.7-15.9 mm in diameter and
until 1876 have no mint mark. From 1876-1884 the mint mark is a
raised dot above the bottom flower. From 1884 the mint mark is a
small “B” incuse or raised on the stem of the top flower.
Madras (Chennai) Mint
- Issues dated 1862 are 16 mm in diameter.
KM#470 Quarter Rupee.
Weight: 2.92g.
Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
19.5 mm. Edge:
Reeded.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata (Calcutta) and
Chennai (Madras).
Obverse: Denomination in English "1/4
RUPEE INDIA" in center with date below. Wreath surrounds from both
sides.
Reverse: Crowned bust facing left with legends
"QUEEN VICTORIA".
Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1862 and 1874-1876
+
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1862 and 1874-1876
+
Chennai (Madras): 1862 (probably differentiated through slightly smaller size).
Distinguishing
features of mints:
BUST
Bust A -
Front of the dress has 4 panels with a single flower at right on
bottom panel.
Bust B -
Front of the dress has 3-3/4 panels with a flower at center on
incomplete bottom panel.
Bust C -
Front of the dress has 3 panels with a flower at left on bottom
panel.
DESIGN OF DATE SIDE
REVERSE I
- The two large petals above the base of the top flower are long
and curved downwards; long stroke between "1/4".
REVERSE II
- The two large petals above the base of the top flower are
short and horizontal; short stroke between "1/4".
MINT
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint
- Issues dated 1862-1878 have no mint mark. The diameter of
the coins is 19.3 - 19.4 mm and the milling is coarse. From 1879
the mint mark is a tiny incuse "C" on the whorl below the
center of the bottom flower.
Mumbai (Bombay) Mint
- Issues dated 1862, 1875 and 1876 have no mint mark. These
have a diameter of 19.7 - 19.8 mm and the milling is narrow.
The coins dated 1874, 1877-1993 have as mint mark a small
bead directly above the bottom flower. From 1884 the mint
mark is a small "B" raised or incuse on the stem of the top
flower.
Chennai (Madras) Mint
- Issues dated 1862 have a diameter of 19.9 to 20.0 mm with
coarse milling.
Note: No mint
mark with diameter 19.7-19.8 mm. Bust A and reverse I type with long
stroke between 1 and 4.
Rupee
KM#473.1 Rupee.
Weight: 11.66g.
Year:
1862. Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
31.0 mm. Edge:
Reeded.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata (Calcutta) and
Chennai (Madras).
Obverse: Denomination in
English "ONE RUPEE INDIA" in center with date below. Wreath surrounds from both
sides.
Reverse: Crowned bust facing left with legends
"QUEEN VICTORIA".
Note:
1862 Rupee has 42 varieties known.
Key date coin: B/II 0/6
and A/II 2/0 are known as rare coins.
Wyon's
dies for the new coinage were dispatched to India in August 1861. However,
upon arrival they were found to be technically inadequate for use in the
Indian mints and new matrices had to be produced in Calcutta. Act XIII
authorized the new coinage in April 1862, declaring the coins current from
1st November.
In 1893, the Times of India published an article clarifying the purpose of
the dots found on some of the 1862 dated rupees. The article states that the
Bombay Mint used a number of dots to indicate the year of manufacture, one
dot for 1863 and eleven dots for 1873.
Bombay Mint: Diameter 30.7 - 30.9 mm.
Calcutta Mint: Diameter less than 30.7 mm.
Madras Mint: Diameter 30.9 - 31.0 mm. Madras
mint was closed in 1867 and only two types of Rupee coins are known as
1862 B/11 0/0 and 1862 B/IIa 0/0.
Major Two difference:
Bust A: 3.75
panels of Jabot. Front of dress has 3-3/4 panels with a small flower
at left on bottom of incomplete panel. Found on 1862 varieties and
on 1874 to 1901 issues.
Bust B: 4
panels of Jabot. Front of dress has 4-1/4 panels with a small flower
at right on bottom complete panel, floral design of dress differs.
Found on 1862 varieties only.
Bust C: 3.33
panels of Jabot. Similar to Bust A, but shorter at the bottom. Front
of the dress has 3-1/3 or 3-1/2 panels. Found on 1862 varieties of
C/I 1/2 and C/II 1/2 and on 1874 to 1901 issues.
Flower Type I:
The top flower is open and has Curved Spikes. Flat top 1 in date.
Flower Type II:
The top flower has Points Upwards. Dot at the base of the flower. No
bud in the volute pointing to the last E in RUPEE. Slant top 1 in
date.
Flower Type IIa:
The top flower has Points Upwards. Pineapple shape at the base of
the flower. Secondly there is also a pineapple shape bud in the
volute pointing to the last E in RUPEE. Slant top 1 in date.
This type is only seen on 1862 A/IIa 0/0
of Calcutta mint and 1862 B/IIa 0/0 of
Bombay or Madras mint. Both these coin were produced in 1862.
Flower Type II variant:
Only found in some types of 1878 A/II dot Rupee
coins from Bombay mint. It has larger dot with
three small stems above the large dot. Slant top 1 in date.
Flower Type III:
The top flower is half open and has Angular Spikes. Flat top 1 in
date.
This type is only seen on 1862 A/III
0/0 and 1862 B/III 0/0 coins
only, both produced by Calcutta mint in 1862.
Flower Type IV:
Smaller in size than Type II and is usually referred as top flower
with Squarer Spikes. This type was reported by W.A.T. Aves in 1984
in Seabys Coins and Metals Bulletin. This type so far exists on
Bombay Rupees as A/IV dot in the years 1879, 1880, 1881 and 1882 only. This type
is recognizable as it has three large petals on the left side of the
date instead of five petals in Type II. Slant top 1 in date.
Minor eight difference:
v in the center of Bodice, usually on
Bust A types. Found on 1862 varieties and 1874-1901.
v on Left of Bodice, usually on Bust
B types. Found on 1862 varieties.
No v on Bust C types as it is already shortened
from the bottom. Found on 1862 varieties, and 1874-1901.
Crescent on Point of Shoulder. Found on 1862
varieties and 1874-1901.
No Crescent on Point of Shoulder. Found on 1862
varieties and 1874-1901.
NO IMAGE
Bud Cone above E of ONE. Found on
1862 varieties and 1874-1901.
Pineapple Cone above E of ONE. Found on some 1862
varieties of Flower Type IIa.
Plain Cone above E of ONE. Found on
1862 varieties and 1874-1901.
No Cone by E of RUPEE. Found on 1862 varieties and
1874-1901.
Pineapple Cone by E of RUPEE. Found on 1862
varieties of Flower Type IIa only.
Hair at nape of the neck consists of four strands
of equal length. Produced by Bombay Mint for some circulated coins
from 1885-1893 and 1897-1898. Calcutta Mint for 1882 Proof issue,
1885 Proof issue and 1888 circulated issue. Before 1885 issues are
not documented.
Hair at nape of the neck consists of four strands,
two lower of them are longer than the upper ones. Calcutta Mint for
some circulated issues from 1887, 1889-1893, 1897-1898 and
1900-1901. 1894 Proof issue by Calcutta mint and 1899 Proof issue by
Bombay mint.
Round pearls in crown. Found on 1862 varieties and
1874-1901.
Elongated pearls in crown. Found on 1862
varieties. They might probably exists in some 1874-1901 issues but
are not documented.
Single Curve in Crown. Found on 1862 varieties and
1874-1901.
Double Curve in Crown. Found on 1862 varieties.
They might probably exists in some 1874-1901 issues but are not
documented.
NO IMAGE
NO IMAGE
Embroidery of the bodice in High Relief. Found on
1862 varieties.
Embroidery of the bodice retouched. Found on 1862
varieties.
Year:
1862.
Weight: 11.53g.
Mint:
Chennai (Madras).
Mintage: N/A (Common).
Type A bust, type I flower design, Zero dot
above and Zero dot below. =
1862 A/I 0/0
[produced in 1862-1863].
Type A bust with type IIa flower design with
pineapple design above last E in Rupee. Zero dot above and Zero dot
below =
1862 A/IIa 0/0 [produced in 1862-1863].
Type A bust, type II flower design, Zero dot
above and Three dot below =
1862 A/II 0/4 [produced in 1866].
Same as above coin but having
different dot arrangements. Collectors have claim to notice more
than 20 varieties based on these four dots. Weight: 11.49g.
Year:
1862.
Weight: 11.47g.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay).
Mintage: 25,801,270 (including dots in
curved and straight line varieties).
Type A bust, type II flower design, Zero dot
above and Three dot below =
1862 A/II 0/5 [produced in 1868].
Type B bust, type II flower design, One dot
above and Zero dot below =
1862 B/II 3/0 [produced in 1864].
A tiny dot under the large left dot.
Besides the above 11
coins (excluding variations in dots), there are 31 more coins dated 1862 as
follow (sorted according to dot patterns):
A/II 0/0 Bombay [produced in 1862-1863]
A/III 0/0 Calcutta [produced in 1862-1863]
B/II 0/0 Calcutta smaller than 30.7mm with
round pearls in crown [produced in 1862-1863]
B/II 0/0 Bombay 30.7-30.9 mm elongated pearls
in crown with flat relief [produced in 1862-1863]
B/II 0/0 Madras 30.9-31.0 mm elongated pearls
in crown with high relief [produced in 1862-1863]
B/IIa 0/0 Bombay or Madras [produced in
1862-1863]
B/III 0/0 Calcutta [produced in 1862-1863]
A/II 0/1 Bombay [produced in 1873]
A/II 0/2 Bombay [produced in 1864]
A/I 0/4 Bombay [produced in 1866]
B/I 0/4 Bombay [produced in 1866]
B/II 0/4 Bombay [produced in 1866]
B/II 0/6 Bombay [produced in 1869] - rare coin
A/II 0/7 Bombay [produced in 1869]
B/II 0/7 Bombay [produced in 1869]
A/II 0/8 Bombay [produced in 1870]
A/II 0/9 Bombay [produced in 1871]
A/II 1/1 Bombay [produced in 1873]
A/I 1/2 Bombay [produced in 1874]
A/II 1/2 Bombay [produced in 1874]
C/I 1/2 Bombay [produced in 1874]
C/II 1/2 Bombay [produced in 1874]
A/II 1/7 Bombay top dot in normal position
[produced in 1872]
A/II 1/7 Bombay top dot in top flower
[produced in 1872]
A/II 1/10 Bombay top dot in normal position
[produced in 1873]
A/II 1/10 Bombay top dot in top flower
[produced in 1873]
A/I 1/11 Bombay [produced in 1873]
A/II 2/0 Bombay [produced in 1864] - rare coin
B/II 2/3 Bombay [produced in 1865]
A/II 2/4 Bombay [produced in 1866]
B/II 2/4 Bombay [produced in 1866]
KM#473.2 Rupee.
Weight: 11.66g.
Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
31.0 mm. Edge:
Reeded.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta).
Obverse: Denomination in
English "ONE RUPEE INDIA" in center with date below. Wreath surrounds from both
sides.
Reverse: Crowned bust facing left with legends
"QUEEN VICTORIA".
Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1874-1876
+
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1874-1876.
Legend: "Queen
Empress" on British India coins from 1877-1901.
Quarter Anna
(One Pice)
KM#486 Quarter Anna.
Weight: 6.00g.
Metal: Copper.
Diameter:
25.0 mm. Edge:
Plain.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata
(Calcutta).
Obverse: Date and denomination "ONE
QUARTER ANNA INDIA" with date below, all within a dotted circle. Wreath surrounds.
Reverse: Crowned bust facing left with legends
"EMPRESS VICTORIA".
Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1877, 1882-1884 and 1886-1889
+
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1877-1880 and 1882-1901.
Distinguishing
features of mints:
BUST
Bust A -
Front of the dress has 4 panels with a single flower at right on
bottom panel.
Bust B -
Front of the dress has 4 panels with a flower at left and right on
bottom panel. Tiny raised v on bottom center of bust. Floral design
of dress differs.
DESIGN OF DATE SIDE
REVERSE I
- Leaf below the first and last digit of date.
REVERSE II
- Leaf below center of date.
MINT
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint
- Issues from 1874 onwards are Type B/II. Most 1879-1887
issues have a tiny incuse "C" on a bead of the inner circle
below the center of the date.
Mumbai (Bombay) Mint
- Issues of 1875-76 have bust A and Reverse I (A/I) and from
1877 onwards are Type B/I.
Note: The
initial 1862 dated Calcutta 1/4 Annas were struck with a
diameter of 26.2 - 26.3 mm (Type A/I). With the opening of the
new Calcutta copper mint in 1865 the 1/4 Annas were struck with
a diameter of 25.3 - 25.4 mm and a tiny raised v on the bottom
center of the bust. Probably only a month or so later Calcutta
began to strike coins with a new obverse and reverse (Type
B/II). This type was used by Calcutta for the remaining
Victorian period. Proofs and restrikes dated 1862 occur from
pattern dies with 4-3/4 panels with a different floral design
dress. Key date coin:
1888(B) with mintage: 8,293,000. Key date
of KM#467 (1862-1876) is 1862(b) A/I dot below date 25.5 mm with
mintage 2,366,000.
KM#488 Two Annas.
Weight: 1.46g.
Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
15.0 mm. Edge:
Plain.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata
(Calcutta).
Obverse: Denomination in English "TWO
ANNAS INDIA" in center with date below. Wreath surrounds.
Reverse: Crowned bust facing left with legends
"EMPRESS VICTORIA".
Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1877-1878, 1881-1894, 1896-1898 and 1900
+
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1877-1878, 1880-1893, 1895-1898 and 1900
+
1899 in Proof only
Note:
Various mint marks to differentiate.
Key date coin:
1889C incuse with mintage: 315,000.
Note:
"C" incuse in the center of bottom flower of
the date side. Type B bust with type II reverse.
Quarter Rupee
= Four Annas
KM#490 Quarter Rupee.
Weight: 2.92g.
Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
19.5 mm. Edge:
Reeded.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta).
Obverse: Denomination in
English "1/4 RUPEE INDIA" in center with date below. Wreath surrounds from both
sides.
Reverse: Crowned bust facing left with legends
"EMPRESS VICTORIA".
Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1877, 1879, 1881-1894 and 1897-1898
+
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1877-1894, 1896-1898 and 1900-1901.
Note:
Tiny incuse "C" on the whorl below the center of the bottom
flower. Type C bust (three panels in dress) with Type II
reverse (horizontal petal). Short stroke between 1 and 4.
Half Rupee
= Eight Annas
KM#491 Half Rupee.
Weight: 5.83g.
Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
24.0 mm. Edge:
Reeded.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint: Mumbai
(Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta).
Obverse: Denomination in English "HALF
RUPEE INDIA" in center with date below. Wreath surrounds.
Reverse: Crowned bust facing left with legends
"EMPRESS VICTORIA".
Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1877, 1882, 1884-1889, 1891-1894, 1897-1898 and 1901
+
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1877-1874 and 1896-1901.
Key date coin:
1880C A/I, "C" incuse with mintage: 180,000. Key date
of KM#472 (1862-1876) is 1862(c) A/II with mintage 736,000.
Distinguishing
features of mints:
BUST
Bust A -
Front of the dress has 4 panels with a flower at left and right on
bottom panel. Tiny raised v on bottom center of bust.
Bust B -
Front of the dress has 4-1/2 or 4-2/3 panels. The incomplete bottom
panel has a flower at left of center.
Bust C -
Front of the dress similar to Bust B but with 4-3/4 panels and
floral design of the dress differs.
DESIGN OF DATE SIDE
REVERSE I
- The top flower is open and the two large petals above the base
of the top flower are short and horizontal, flat top 1 in date.
REVERSE II
- The top flower is closed and the two large petal above the
base of the top flower are long and curved downwards, slant top
1 in date..
MINT
Kolkata (Calcutta) Mint
- Issues have Bust A/Reverse I and Bust C/Reverse II, dated
1862-1878, and have no mint mark. From 1879 the mint mark is
a small incuse "C" below the center of the bottom flower.
Mumbai (Bombay) Mint
- Issues dated 1862 have no mint mark but commonly
distinguished from Calcutta by B/II design. From 1874-1884
the mint mark is a small dot above the centre of the bottom
flower. From 1885 the mint mark is a small "B" raised or
incuse, on the stem of the top flower.
Chennai (Madras) Mint
- Issues dated 1862 have no mint mark and cannot be
distinguished from the Mumbai (Bombay) issues.
Note:
Incuse and inverted "B" on the top
flower stem. Type A
bust with type I design flower.
Rupee
KM#492 Rupee.
Weight: 11.66g.
Metal: 0.917
Silver. Diameter:
31.0 mm. Edge:
Reeded.
Alignment: Medal.
Mint:
Mumbai (Bombay) and Kolkata (Calcutta).
Obverse: The legend: ONE RUPEE INDIA
with date, within a scroll-like wreath of Indian flora.
Reverse: Crowned and robed bust of
Queen Victoria facing left. Divided legend: VICTORIA EMPRESS. Mintage Years:
Mumbai (Bombay): 1877-1893, 1897-1898 and 1900-1901
+
Kolkata (Calcutta):
1877-1893, 1897-1898 and 1900-1901.
Note:
1877 to 1901 Rupee has 72 varieties reported. No Rupee coins were
issued for circulation from 1894 to 1896 and 1899 (except Proof
issues: 1894 C/I by Calcutta mint and 1899 C/I by Bombay mint). Key date coins:
1883(B) without mm (mint mark) Type A bust with Type I flower
design
and 1883(B) dot with raised "B"
having Type A bust with Type I flower design.
Mumbai (Bombay) mint: Dot between date and below flower.
Mintage Years: 1877-1883.
Bombay mint also produced a coin in year 1883 without any mint mark.
Mumbai (Bombay) mint: "B" raised on Type I flower on the top.
Mintage Years: 1883-1885, 1887-1889 and 1892
Mumbai (Bombay) mint: "B" raised on Type II flower on the
top. Mintage Years in 1885 only.
Mumbai (Bombay) mint: "B" raised on whorl of below flower. It
is found on Type II flower coins of 1884 only.
Mumbai (Bombay) mint: "B" incuse on Type I flower on the top.
Mintage Years: 1885-1893, 1897-1898 and 1900-1901.
Mumbai (Bombay) mint: "B" incuse and inverted on Type I
flower on the top on 1887 and 1888 coins only.
Kolkata (Calcutta) mint: No Dot between date and below flower.
Mintage Years: 1877-1878.
Kolkata (Calcutta) mint: "C" incuse
below the bottom flower as highlighted. Mintage Years: 1879-1893,
1897-1898 and 1900-1901.
Type C bust, type I flower design without dot =
1901 C/I "C" incuse.
Besides the above 37
coins (excluding the bubble 1882 Rupee and 1892 rotated issues), there are 35 more coins in this series as
follow (sorted according to date):
1878 A/I - Calcutta Mint
1879 A/I "C" incuse - Calcutta Mint
1880 A/II dot - Bombay Mint
1880 A/I "C" incuse - Calcutta Mint
1881 A/I dot - Bombay Mint
1881 A/II dot - Bombay Mint
(doubtful)
1881 A/IV dot - Bombay Mint
1882 A/II dot - Bombay Mint
(doubtful)
1882 A/IV dot - Bombay Mint
1882 A/I "C" incuse - Calcutta Mint
1883 A/I no mm (mint mark) - Bombay Mint
(scarce)
1883 A/I dot - Bombay Mint
1883 A/I dot and "B" raised - Bombay Mint
(scarce)
