India 1870 10 rupees
This specimen was lot 2518 in Sincona sale 80 (Zürich, October 2022), where it sold for 2,600 CHF (about US$3,116 including buyer's fees). The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA | British India, Victoria, 1837-1901. 10 Rupees 1870, Calcutta. Very fine. Cleaned and some edge flaws." The SCWC notes three varieties of this rare issue: one mintmarked CM (KM 477), one with a plain edge (KM 478) and one with a reeded edge (KM 479, shown here). All are products of the Calcutta mint. Gold mohurs (worth 15 rupees) were also made and are more available. As the Raj was on a silver standard at a time when silver was steadily dropping in price, little gold coinage was produced.
Recorded mintage: 7,932 plus restrikes and off-metal strikes.
Specification: 7.77 g, 0.917 fine gold. This specimen 7.60 g.
Catalog reference: KM 479, Fr-1602.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- 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
- Stevens, Paul, and Randy Weir, The Uniform Coinage of India, 1835 to 1947, A Catalogue and Pricelist, London, Spink & Son Ltd, 2012.
- [1]Richter, Jürg, SINCONA Auction 80, World Coins and Medals, SINCONA Bullion Auction, World Banknotes, Coins and Medals from Switzerland, Zürich: SINCONA AG, 2022.
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