India 1870(c) mohur KM-481
This specimen was lot 977 in Stephen Album sale 47 (Santa Rosa, CA, September 2023), where it sold for $12,000. The catalog description[1] noted, "BRITISH INDIA: Victoria, Queen, 1837-1876, AV mohur, 1870(c), mature bust, without V on ground-line of bust, proof restrike, NGC graded Proof 62." The mohur was worth fifteen rupees. The SCWC divides this rare issue into "young bust" (KM 480) and "mature bust" (KM 481, shown here). The mature bust has a sharper nose and a distinct double chin and was used only for proofs and restrikes. The British made several attempts to issue gold coins for India but never went into mass production. India remained on a silver standard, which caused difficulties as the price of silver slid nearly continuously between the American Civil War and World War One. The last mohur was struck in 1891.
Recorded mintage: unknown but all proofs or restrikes. The SCWC records that 11,000 were struck of KM 480.
Specification: 11.66 g, 0.917 fine gold.
Catalog reference: KM-481, S&W-4.10, Prid-10.
- Friedberg, Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, Gold Coins of the World, From Ancient Times to the Present, 9th ed., Clifton, NJ: Coin and Currency Institute, 2017.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- Stevens, Paul, and Randy Weir, The Uniform Coinage of India, 1835 to 1947, A Catalogue and Pricelist, London, Spink & Son Ltd, 2012.
- [1]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 47, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2023.
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