India 1878(c) 1/4 anna
This specimen was lot 30480 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Chicago, August 2022), where it sold for $750. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. 1/4 Anna, 1878-(C). Calcutta Mint. Victoria. NGC MS-64 Brown. Tied with just five others for the top spot in the NGC census, this elegant near-Gem features vibrant red-brown allure with a radiant cartwheel nature to the underlying brilliance." This type was issued at Calcutta and Bombay 1877-1901 in a bewildering array of varieties, including proofs, off-metal strikes and restrikes. The type is the second largest copper denomination after the half anna which was issued for circulation 1877 only. It is distinguished from the type issued 1862-76 by the obverse legend, "VICTORIA EMPRESS" instead of "VICTORIA QUEEN."
Recorded mintage: 40,813,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 6.4 g, copper.
Catalog reference: KM-486; S&W-6.490; Prid-612.
- 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, The 2022 ANA Auction - Ancients & World Coins - Featuring The Salton Collection Part III, the Augustana Collection and the Robert C. Knepper Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2022.
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