India 1875(c) 1/4 rupee
This specimen was lot 72607 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $240. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. 1/4 Rupee, 1875. Calcutta Mint. Victoria. NGC AU-55. Olive-gray toning and only light, even handling highlight this fractional issue." This type was issued at Calcutta and Bombay 1862 and 1874-76 in a bewildering array of varieties, including proofs, off-metal strikes and restrikes. The type is the third largest silver denomination. This date comes with no mintmark. The Bombay mint added another 5,239,000 in 1875. In 1877, the obverse legend was revised to read, "VICTORIA EMPRESS".
Recorded mintage: 2,797,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 2.72 g, 0.917 fine silver, 19.3-20.0 mm diameter, .086 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-470.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, February 2023 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, featuring the David Sterling Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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