HISTORICAL COINS FROM INDIA

OBV : SHAH ALAM BADSHAH, SANAT JALUS 37

REV : YAK PAI SIKKA (DENOMINATION, 3 PAI)

IN NAGARI, ARABIC AND BENGALI SCRIPT

BENGAL PRESIDENCY

SHAH ALAM II BADSHAH

PICE

COPPER 26.0 mm, 6.5 GRAM

COINS FROM THE BRITISH RAJ

After the death of King George V his son, who would have been King Edward VIII, abdicated before the coronation. No coins were minted using his portrait. His brother the Duke of York was crowned King George VI in May 1937 and the first coin of India with his effigy was minted in 1938.

After the price of silver started going up after the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the practice of hoarding silver coins became common. This led to reducing the use of silver in coins. The 1940 1/4-Rupee, 1/2-Rupee and One Rupee coins were reduced from 0.917 silver to 0.500 silver (there were a limited number of 1939 Rupees minted in 0.500 silver). Though not listed by Krause, D. Chakravarty reports 1940 1/4 Rupees exist in the earlier 0.917 silver version.

There are many interesting varieties in the King George VI series.

The 1 Pice coin was only minted for five years, but it has three crown different varieties and was made at four different mints. It's shape is also unique, with the hole in the center (sometimes referred to as a "washer" shape). The obverse varieties are recognized by the crown design on the obverse designated Round Crown (RC), High Crown (HC) and Flat Crown (FC). A second difference is the size of the lettering and date numerals, small and large. The mint is designated by a mint mark just under the date on the obverse: Calcutta (no mint mark), Bombay (large dot), Pretoria, South Africa (small dot) and Lahore (raised "L"). Krause indicates in 1944 the Bombay mm appears to be a large dot over a diamond. My 1943 Bombay appears to have a double dot.

1 Anna - Copper-Nickel (1938-1947)

2 Annas - Copper-Nickel (1918-1936)

This copper-nickel coin was introduced to replace the silver 2 Annas coin, due to the high cost of silver. Unlike the situation with the higher denomination coins, this coin was not discontinued and was minted through the end of the George V era. It was produced by both the Calcutta mint (no mint mark) and the Bombay mint ("dot" mint mark at the bottom of the reverse).

King Edward VII died on May 6, 1910 and was followed to the throne by his son King George V, who had his coronation on June 22, 1911. Coins were minted in India with the effigy of King George V from 1911 to 1936. Due to the increase in the price of silver caused by World War I (1914-1918) the silver 1/2 Rupee, 1/4 Rupee and 2 Annas were discontinued and new cupro-nickel coins introduced (8 Annas, 4 Annas, 2 Anna) to join the cupro-nickel 1 Anna coin). These new coins were not popular, though, so the 8 Anna and 4 Anna coins were discontinued shortly after introduction. The 1/4 Rupee and 1/2 Rupee silver coins quickly resumed production.

An interesting story is about the so-called "Pig Rupee". On the 1911 issues of the Rupee, Half Rupee, Quarter Rupee, Two Annas and 1/4 Anna the King is shown wearing a robe with a small elephant on it. This elephant was thought to resemble a pig with the trunk appearing to be a pig snout and the short legs not appearing very elephant-like. This offended the religious sensibilities of many, so most of the Rupees minted for 1911 were withheld from circulation and later melted. The 1912 coins had a redesigned elephant.

One Rupee (1938-1947)

The Rupee was minted in Calcutta, Bombay and Lahore in 0.917 silver, 0.500 silver and Nickel with a reeded edge and later a security edge. There is no mint mark for Calcutta. The Bombay issues have a small dot or diamond on the reverse under the ornate (the lotus flower) near the bottom of the coin (see illustration). The Lahore mint used a small "L" in the same position. When the composition switched to Nickel in 1947 a completely different reverse (an Indian tiger) was introduced.

1/4 Anna (1938-1942)

2 Annas (1939-1947)

COPPER BASED

1835, two lions facing each other,leaning against a shield or crest with two flags on top,with a lion between them. the back says 'one quarter anna',circled in a wreath. the words 'East India Company' along the top edge.and what appears to be arabic writing under the word India.

One Rupee (1911-1936)

Revised Elephant design

The Rupee was minted in both Calcutta and Bombay. There is no mint mark for Calcutta. The Bombay issues have a small dot on the reverse under the ornate near the bottom of the coin (see illustration). The first year of issue (1911) has an elephant on the Kings robe that was considered to resemble a pig, thus the variety is known as the "pig rupee" (Type I). This variant is also on the 1/2 Rupee, the 1/4 Rupee, the 2 Annas and the 1/4 Anna coins. The elephant figure was redesigned (Type II) and this design was used on all issues starting in 1912.

1 Anna - Copper-Nickel (1938-1947)

One Rupee (1938-1947)

The Rupee was minted in Calcutta, Bombay and Lahore in 0.917 silver, 0.500 silver and Nickel with a reeded edge and later a security edge. There is no mint mark for Calcutta. The Bombay issues have a small dot or diamond on the reverse under the ornate (the lotus flower) near the bottom of the coin (see illustration). The Lahore mint used a small "L" in the same position. When the composition switched to Nickel in 1947 a completely different reverse (an Indian tiger) was introduced.

After the death of King George V his son, who would have been King Edward VIII, abdicated before the coronation. No coins were minted using his portrait. His brother the Duke of York was crowned King George VI in May 1937 and the first coin of India with his effigy was minted in 1938.

After the price of silver started going up after the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the practice of hoarding silver coins became common. This led to reducing the use of silver in coins. The 1940 1/4-Rupee, 1/2-Rupee and One Rupee coins were reduced from 0.917 silver to 0.500 silver (there were a limited number of 1939 Rupees minted in 0.500 silver). Though not listed by Krause, D. Chakravarty reports 1940 1/4 Rupees exist in the earlier 0.917 silver version.

There are many interesting varieties in the King George VI series, which I'll try to sort out below. It will take some time to document all the varieties since my reference collection is missing many of them.

1/4 Anna (1903-1910)

The 1/4 Anna coin was minted only in Calcutta. There are no variants and no mint marks. In 1906 the composition was changed from copper to bronze (95% copper, 4% tin, 1% zinc). This was probably due to the International price of copper increasing. The new bronze coins were thinner. Both versions of the coin were minted in 1906.

After Queen Victoria died in 1901, 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 a thinner plancet. The 1906 coins come in both varieties.

The King Edward VII coins are distinct in that the head is uncrowned. The apparent explanation is, though Queen Victoria died on 22 January 1901, Edward's coronation was not held till 9 August 1902. The master dies were created before the coronation, so it was not possible to show him wearing the crown! It is reported that a new portrait was prepared for 1910, but King Edward's death that year prevented the issue of any coins. The 1 Anna introduced in 1906 does have a portrait of the King wearing his crown.

1/4 Anna (1938-1942)

COINS FROM THE INDIAN STATES

Obverse: Madhavrao Shinde alija bahadur gwalior circumscribing figure of Madhavrao Scindia.

Reverse: Pav Anna over Coat of Arms, Pav Anna means 1/4 Anna

MadhavraoII (20 October 1876-5 June 1925) was also known as Madho Rao Scindia . He was the 5th Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior. He acceded to the throne in 1886 and ruled to his death in 1925. He was noted by the British Government as a progressive ruler of a princely state. He was twice married, but had only issue by his second marriage in 1913, one son and one daughter, to whom King George V and Queen Mary stood sponsors. He was succeeded by his only son, Maharajdhiraja Maharaja Sir George Jivaji Rao Scindia, 6th Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior. His daughter died married, but without issue, in 1934.

Since the precolonial days, Gwalior was a significant place because of its location and is a commanding fort. Gwalior state was named after the old town of Gwalior and was ruled by the Sindhia dynasty. The foundation of this Indian kingdom was laid in the early 18th century by Ranoji Sindhia, a part of the Maratha Confederacy. During the reign of Mahadji Sindhia(1761-1794) the state became a powerful kingdom in North India.

The dating is done in Vikram Samvat(VS). In Vikram Samvat, the counting had started from 57 BC. So we can simply subtract 57 from the year.

Yashwantrao Holkar

Maharajadhiraj Raj Rajeshwar Sawai Shri Yashwantrao Holkar Bahadur, Maharaja of Indore was born in 1776.

He has been described by a historian as the “Napoleon of India”.

Read history at -

http://palbaghelsamaj.blogspot.com/

M E D A L S

King George VI Coronation Medal

The King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI

A circular, silver medal, 1.25 inches in diameter. Featured on the obverse are the conjoined effigies of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, crowned and robed, facing left. The rim is not raised on this medal and there is no legend.

The Royal Cypher GRI appears on the reverse, surmounted by a large crown, with the inscription CROWNED / 12 May 1937 below the Royal Cypher in tow lines. Around the rim of the medal is the inscription: GEORGE VI QVEEN ELIZABETH (a V in Queen rather than a U)

For details read - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_George_VI_Coronation_Medal

War Medal 1939–1945

The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea. It is sometimes described as the "Victory Medal" for World War II, although that is not its correct name

• A circular silver (.800 fine) medal, 36mm in diameter. The British issue medals were made of cupro-nickel.
• The obverse shows the crowned coinage effigy of King George VI, facing left, and the legend GEORGIVS VI D:G:BR:OMN:REX ET INDIAE:IMP.
• The reverse shows a lion standing on the body of a double-headed dragon. The dragons heads are those of an eagle and a dragon to signify the principal occidental and oriental enemies. At the top, just right of centre are the dates 1939/1945 in two lines.

Details at :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_Medal_1939%E2%80%931945

25th Independence Anniversary Medal

Awarded to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of Indian independence in 1972. The medal was awarded to all members of the armed forces, paramilitary forces, and police forces (broadly defined) who were serving on 15 August 1972.

For police recipients, these medals have not normally been officially manufactured and issued, but were, instead, made locally by independent manufacturers and the policemen can either buy them from these shops or the battalions buy it and give it to the qualifying constables. This gives rise to great variability in manufacture and even in design details.

Established: 1973.

Obverse: Circular 35-mm copper-nickel, with the national emblem in the center. Surrounded by the legend "25th INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSRY MEDAL / Pachisvi swatantrata jayanti medal [Hindi]". Suspended by a ring. Usually named on the edge.

Reverse: The chakra with the dates "1947 / 1972" above and below.

Ribbon: 32 mm, maroon with central stripes of orange, white, green (4 mm each). Maroon 10 mm, orange 4 mm, white 4 mm, green 4 mm, maroon 10 mm.

More info : http://www.prideofindia.net/20th.html

ALL ABOUT COIN COLLECTION

Coin collecting is the collecting or trading of coins or other forms of minted legal tender.
Coins of interest to collectors often include those that circulated for only a brief time, coins with mint errors and especially beautiful or historically significant pieces. Coin collecting can be differentiated from numismatics in that the latter is the systematic study of currency. Though closely related, the two disciplines are not necessarily the same. A numismatist may or may not be a coin collector and vice versa.

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