15/06/2022
British India Coins:
Coin collecting is an interesting and fascinating hobby. Children around the world like it. It is probably the oldest of all collecting hobbies. The coins not only have utility and significance in our day-to-day life, but they also reveal things of great historical significance and thus have a lot of romance. No wonder we see people collecting coins with as great enthusiasm as the numismatists. Collection of Stamps is said to be "King of Hobbies", but the fascinating collection of Coins is of higher merit to be "Emperor of Hobbies". Most collectors in India start with the British India coins since there are a large number of varieties and also, they are very easily available in the market at a lower price.
During British Rule in India, coins were issued between 1835 to 1947. The coins were issued between 1835-1858 under the authority of the East India Company and the coins were issued between 1862 and 1947 known as the Imperial issues were under the authority of The British Crown.
Coins issued between 1835 and 1947 bear obverse portrait of the crowned emperor/queen/empress of England.
British India coins were minted from the following three mints.
1) Madras Mint (Closed in 1867)
2) Bombay Mint
3) Calcutta Mint
The composition of the coins issued during the British era contains copper, nickel, brass, silver, and gold.
Coinage during William IV-
In 1835, the following denomination coins were issued:
1/12 anna (One Pie), one quarter anna, half anna, quarter rupee, half rupee, one rupee, one mohur (fifteen rupees) and two mohurs (thirty rupees)
Coinage during Queen Victoria/Victoria Empress -
From 1840 to 1858 the following denomination coins were issued:
Quarter rupee(Four Annas), half rupee and one rupee.
And from 1862 to 1862-1876 the following denomination coins were issued:
1/12 anna (One Pie), one quarter anna, half anna, two annas, quarter rupee (Four Annas) , one rupee and one mohur (fifteen rupees)
And from 1877 to 1901 the following denomination coins were issued:
1/12 anna (One Pie), half pice, one quarter anna, two annas, quarter rupee (Four Annas), half rupee (Eight Annas) and one rupee.
Coinage during Edward VII -
From 1903 to 1910 the following denomination coins were issued:
1/12 anna (One Pie), half pice, one quarter anna (one pice), one anna, two annas, quarter rupee (Four Annas), half rupee (Eight Annas) and one rupee.
Coinage during George V -
From 1911 to 1936 the following denomination coins were issued:
1/12 anna (One Pie), half pice, one quarter anna (one pice), one anna, two annas, quarter rupee(Four Annas), Half rupee (Eight Annas) and one rupee.
Coinage during George VI -
From 1938 to 1947, the following denomination coins were issued:
1/12 anna (one pie), half pice, one quarter anna (one pice), 1/2 anna, one anna, two annas, quarter rupee (Four Annas), Half rupee (Eight Annas), and one rupee.
