India 1884-B rupee
This specimen was lot 71635 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $480. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. Rupee, 1884-B. Bombay Mint. Victoria. PCGS MS-62 Gold Shield. This steely gray, nearly-choice piece offers some attractive brilliance to the luster and also exhibits a slight die clashing behind the queen's neck and around the N in INDIA." 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 largest silver denomination. It is distinguished from the type issued 1862-76 by the obverse legend, "VICTORIA EMPRESS" instead of "VICTORIA QUEEN." This date, which is slightly scarce, features a raised mintmark.
Recorded mintage: 36,847,000.
Specification: 11.66 g, 0.917 fine silver, .343 troy oz AGW, 30.8 mm diameter.
Catalog reference: KM-492; S&W-6.78; Prid-166.
- 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 June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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