In
1601, by decree of Queen Elizabeth I of England, the English East India Company was established. Initially, a purely commercial enterprise, which received a charter for trade, over the 250 years of its existence extended its influence to almost all of Asia, formed one of the most combat-ready armies in the region, which made it possible to gradually "seize" most of the native principalities and methodically pump their resources to the metropolis.
Translated from Sanskrit, "rupee" is forged silver. Despite the fact that written references to the rupee date back to the 3rd century BC, the first rupees as a means of calculation appeared in India in 1542 during the reign of Sher Shah. The first issue of rupee by the East India Company took place in 1677. The Madras, Bombay and Bengal presidencies of the East India Company each issued their own coins .
KM # 445,
1/12
anna 1835, copper, years 1835,1848
KM # 446, ¼ anna 1835, copper, single year of manufacture
KM # 447, ½ anna 1835, copper, years 1835,1845
Also during this period, silver coins were issued in denominations of ¼, ½ and 1 rupee with the profile of King William IV.
KM # 450.1, Rs 1, 1835, silver 0.917, single year of issue
After the death of the monarch in 1837, his niece, Queen Victoria, ascended the English throne.
Queen Victoria (reigned 1837-1901, life years 1819-1901)
The line of coins issued by the East India Company during its reign was expanded. Coins were issued in 1/12
anna
, ½ anna, ¼ anna, ½ paisa, 2 anna, ¼ rupees, ½ rupees, 1 rupee. At the bottom is a pair of coins from that period from a personal collection.
KM # 460, 2 anna 1841, silver 0.917, single year of manufacture
KM # 458, Rs 1, 1840, Silver 0.917, Single Year of Issue
The circulation of coins issued was huge. In the period from 1835 to 1893 alone, silver coins worth 3,300,000,000 rupees were minted. For each Hindu, on average, there were 5 ¾ rupees along with copper coins
.
In
1857, the colonial troops received new Anfield capsule guns, the cartridges of which were packed in cardboard boxes soaked in animal fats. The rank and file of military units consisted mainly of Hindus, for whom a cow is a sacred animal, and Muslims, who consider a pig an unclean animal. According to technology, before charging the gun, it was necessary to bite a cardboard cartridge, also saturated with pig-cow fat, which, given the above, caused disobedience of both. When deciding on the execution of disobedient soldiers, British officers probably did not assume that the contradictions accumulated over the years of the company's presence in India would result in a popular uprising that would soon stir up the whole of India.
The sepoy rebellion was brutally suppressed, but its causes and colonial policies had to be changed. In 1858, the British Crown took territories from the East India Company under its jurisdiction. India for the next 90 years becomes an English colony.
In
1862, the first issue of coins took place for the Indian territories, as for the colony of Great Britain, the legend changed accordingly: instead of EAST INDIA COMPANY, the generalized name of the state INDIA is present on the reverse of the coins. Starting with 2 anna, coins are issued in silver.
KM # 465,
1/12
anna 1862, copper, years 1862-1876
KM # 466, paisa ½ 1862, copper, single year of manufacture
KM # 467, ¼ anna 1862, copper, years 1862-1876
In
1870, the line of coins issued was officially legalized, which included copper coins in denominations of 1 share (1/12 anna), ½ paisa (1/8 anna), 1 paisa (¼ anna), 2 paisa (½ anna) and silver coins in denominations of 1/8 rupees (2 anna), ¼ rupees, ½ rupees, 1 rupee.
In
1876, the Royal Titles Act was passed in Great Britain, according to which Victoria adopted the title of Empress of India and, starting in 1877, the legend changes from QUEEN to EMPRESS on coins.
KM # 483,
1/12
anna 1895, copper, years 1877-1901
KM # 484, paisa ½ 1886, copper, issue years 1885-1901
KM # 486, ¼ annas 1889, copper, years 1877-1901
KM # 488, 2 anna 1890, silver 0.917, years 1877-1901
KM # 490, Rs ¼ 1886, Silver 0.917, Issue years 1877-1901
KM # 492, 1 rupee 1901, silver 0.917, issue years 1877-1901
The Queen's eldest son, Edward VII, ascended the English throne in 1901.
King Edward VII (reigned 1901-1910, life years 1841-1910)
In
the first line of issued coins there was no denomination in the Anna ½, which was not so widespread during the time of Queen Victoria. The rest of the coins of the line were present in the same composition.
KM # 497,
1/12
anna 1906, copper, production years 1903-1906
KM # 499, ½ paisa 1903, copper, production years 1903-1906
KM # 501, ¼ anna 1906, copper, production years 1903-1906
KM # 505, 2 anna 1903, silver 0.917, production years 1903-1910
KM # 506, Rs ¼ 1905, 6.3 M ex. silver 0.917, production years 1903-1910
KM # 507, Rs ½ 1907, 2.8 M ex. silver 0.917, years 1905-1910
KM # 508, Rs 1, 1907, silver 0.917, 81.3 million ecz, production years 1903-1910
In
1906, copper was replaced by bronze and a new denomination appeared - a copper-nickel 1 anna coin.
KM # 498,
1/12
anna 1907, bronze, production years 1906-1910
KM # 500, ½ paisa 1910, bronze, production years 1906-1910
.
i
KM # 502, ¼ anna 1907, bronze, production years 1906-1910
KM # 504, 1 anna 1909, copper-nickel alloy, production years 1906-1910
King George V (reign 1910-1936, life years 1865-1936)
The next Emperor of India - King George V of Great Britain issues his coins only a year after the coronation, in 1911. An interesting story happened with this issue. On the obverse of the coin, the King is depicted with a chain of the Order of the Indian Elephant around his neck. The engravers made the trunk of the elephant not long enough, making the elephant look like a pig. Agree, for a partially Muslim state , such coins were unacceptable.
The next year, the mistake was corrected, the trunk was lengthened, and coins with the image of an elephant, which looks like an elephant, were in circulation.
KM # 509,
1/12
anna 1928, bronze, years 1912-1936
KM # 510, ½ paisa 1936, bronze, production years 1912-1936
KM # 512, ¼ anna 1936, bronze, production years 1912-1936
KM # 513, 1 anna 1917, copper-nickel alloy, production years 1912-1936
KM # 515, 2 anna 1912, silver 0.917, production years 1912-1917
KM # 518, Rs ¼ 1916, Silver 0.917, Years 1912-1936
KM # 522, Rs ½ 1918, Silver 0.917, Years 1912-1936
KM # 524, 1 rupee 1919, silver 0.917, years of issue 1912-1936
Due to a noticeable shortage of silver after the First World War, it was decided to abandon the minting of small silver coins in 2 annas and in 1918-1919 the line of copper-nickel coins was expanded. First, 2 annas come into circulation.
KM # 516, 2 anna 1919, copper-nickel alloy, production years 1918-1936
Then, in 1919, the traditional line was supplemented with coins of 4 and 8 annas, also from a copper-nickel alloy.
KM # 519, 4 anna 1920, copper-nickel alloy, production years 1919-1921
KM # 520, 8 anna 1919, copper-nickel alloy, production years 1919-1920
George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George at birth) ruled the United Kingdom for just over 15 years, from December 1936 to February 1952. At the same time, the number of varieties of coins issued during his reign for British India for such a short time is very impressive.
King George VI (reigned 1936-1952, life years 1895-1952)
With the release of the first line of coins, the new King was slightly tightened - the first coins entered circulation in 1938-1939.
The line of coins of the first type included denominations: 1/12 anna, ½ paisa, ¼ anna, 1 anna, 2 anna, ¼ rupees, ½ rupees. The first variety of coins from the reign of George VI differs from subsequent ones in the shape of the crown on the head of the monarch. For the first portrait (First Head), heraldic lilies touch the half-arcs of the crown, and for the second portrait (Second Head) lilies do not reach half-arcs.
KM # 526, 1/12 anna 1939, bronze, only year of manufacture
KM # 528, ½ paisa 1939, bronze, years of manufacture 1939,1940
KM # 530, ¼ anna 1939, bronze, years of manufacture 1939,1940
KM # 536, 1 anna 1939, copper-nickel alloy, production years 1938-1940
KM # 540, 2 annas 1939, copper-nickel alloy, single year of manufacture
¼ rupees and ½ rupees with a portrait of the first type in 1939 were produced on silver blanks of 917 samples, then in 1940 the sample decreased to 500 without changing the design. A coin in denomination of 1 rupee with the first portrait was not issued.
KM # 544a, ¼ anna 1940, silver 0.500, single year of manufacture
Coins with a portrait of the Second type began to be issued in the same year, 1939. The changes affected all denominations, with the exception of coins in the paisa ½, which was issued only with the first portrait.
Unlike coins with the first portrait, coins with the second portrait were issued much longer and some of the denominations have several varieties.
KM # 527, 1/12 anna 1939, bronze, production years 1939-1942
KM # 531, ¼ anna 1940, bronze, production years 1940-1942
In 1943, the anna ¼ was replaced by pais (1/4 anna = 1 pais), the last bronze coin in our review. The pais of British India stands out among the entire mint. This denomination first appeared under George VI, the coin does not have a monarch profile, but has a large hole in the middle. Nevertheless, it was not without varieties. They concern the appearance of the crown and the size of the inscriptions in the circle of the coin.
The first variety is the Round Crown (RC - Round Crown), the small size of the letters of the legend and date numbers. This type was produced only in 1943 with a circulation of 164.7 thousand copies. If the catalog is not mistaken, for a country like India, this circulation is negligible.
KM # 532, 1 paise 1943, bronze, only year of manufacture
For some reason, the Krause catalog refers the following types of coins in 1 paise to one number KM # 533. However, the differences in the postmarks are more obvious, and they are again in the form of the crown "High Crown" (HC - High Crown) and "Flat Crown" (FC - Flat Crown).
KM # 533, 1 paisa 1944 (HC), Bronze
KM # 533, 1 paisa 1945 (FC), Bronze
The next coin in denomination of ½ anna, also first appeared under George VI and was issued in four varieties.
KM # 534b.1, ½ anna 1942, nickel brass alloy, single year of manufacture
This type was produced only in 1942. Differences from subsequent issues in the absence of dots before and after the word INDIA.
KM # 534b.2, ½ anna 1944, nickel-brass alloy, production years 1942-1945
.
.
On coins of this type, the dots before and after the word INDIA .
The next two types of this denomination were produced in the post-war period on copper-nickel blanks. Differences in symbols before and after the date of issue of the coin.
KM # 535.1, ½ Annas 1946, Copper-Nickel Alloy, Single Year of Manufacture
KM # 535.2, ½ annas 1947, copper-nickel alloy, years of manufacture 1946,1947
The 1 annu denomination with the second portrait also has four varieties.
KM # 537, 1 anna 1941, copper-nickel alloy, production years 1940,1941
For the production of coins of the following type, nickel brass blanks were used instead of copper-nickel.
KM # 537a, 1 anna 1943, nickel-brass alloy, production years 1942-1945
KM # 539, 1 anna 1945, nickel brass alloy, only year of manufacture
Compared to previous types, the design of the coin has slightly changed: the unit denoting the face value has become thinner, the rhombus of the ornament does not reach the edge of the coin, etc.
The coins of the last, fourth type have the same ornament as the coins of the 1945 model, but in a different metal - the mints of Calcutta and Bombay returned to minting on copper-nickel blanks.
KM # 538, 1 anna 1946, copper-nickel alloy, production years 1946-1947
The next coin - 2 annas first appeared in this form under George V. Even under Edward VII, they were small, round and silver. And again four varieties.
KM # 541, 2 anna 1941, copper-nickel alloy, production years 1939-1941
The same design with a change in the material of the blanks:
KM # 541a, 2 anna 1943, nickel-brass alloy, production years 1942-1944
In 1945, another type of coin was issued, with a small number "2" in the denomination.
KM # 543, 2 anna 1945, nickel brass alloy, only year of manufacture
And in 1946, 1947, a copper-nickel alloy began to be used as a material again.
KM # 542, 2 anna 1946, copper-nickel alloy, production years 1946-1947
Let's move on to silver. The face value of ¼ rupees with the second portrait has three varieties. All of them are in the collection and are presented below.
KM # 545, Rs ¼ 1940, Silver 0.500, Single Year of Manufacture
In 1942 and 1943, ¼ rupees were issued with a new stamp - an enlarged ornament compared to the previous type.
KM # 546, Rs ¼ 1942, Silver 0.500, Issue years 1942,1943
From 1943 to 1945, the ribbed edge on coins of this denomination was replaced by "protected."
KM # 547, ¼ rupees 1944, silver 0.500, years of production 1943-1945, Security edge
Coins in the ½ rupee a little longer "held" a silver sample of 0.917. The transition to the 0.500 sample occurred in 1940, and already on coins with the Second Portrait. Prior to this, coins were issued with the "first" portrait in 1938-1939 (KM # 549) and with the "second" portrait in 1940 (KM # 550). Next comes the already mentioned type KM # 550a made of silver 0.500 samples. Then, in 1941 and 1942, the edge became "protected" (KM # 551). In 1942-1945, as well as in the ¼ rupee, the ornament "enlarged" (KM # 552).
KM # 550a, Rs ½ 1940, silver 0.500, single year of manufacture, ribbed edge
KM # 551, ½ rupees 1942, silver 0.500, 61.6 million exes, years of production 1941-1942, Security edge, narrow edging on the reverse
KM # 552, ½ rupees 1944, silver 0.500, production years 1942-1945, Security edge, wide edging on reverse
The release of the senior denomination in denomination of 1 rupee began in 1938 immediately with the "second" portrait (KM # 555). Starting in 1939, the edge was also "protected," and also reduced the silver sample (KM # 556 ).
KM # 555, 1 rupee 1938, silver 0.917, years of issue 1938-1939
KM # 556, 1 rupee 1941, silver 0.500, years of issue 1939-1943
Please note that the replacement of the chopped edge with the "protected" one occurs first in large coins and only then from medium to small silver coins, which is understandable - it is less profitable to fake a trifle.
The last silver coin in our review is a Rs 1 with a reduced head.
KM # 557.1, 1 rupee 1945, silver 0.500, production years 1942-1945
In 1946, denominations of coins of ¼, ½ and 1 rupee were issued on nickel blanks instead of silver blanks in a completely new Panther design.
KM # 548, Rs ¼ 1947, Nickel, years 1946,1947
KM # 553, Rs ½ 1947, nickel, years 1946,1947
KM # 559, 1 rupee 1947, nickel, single year of manufacture
These were the last coins issued by the UK for India. In 1948, the largest colony gained independence from the British Crown and began to issue its own coins.