India 1885-B 1/2 rupee
This specimen was lot 34456 in Heritage sale 3135 (Pittsburgh, September 2026), where it sold for $3,660. The catalog description[1] noted, "India: British India. Victoria 1/2 Rupee 1885-B AU58 NGC. Type A Bust, Type II Reverse. Iridescent toning beautifies this low-mintage date and mint. Ex. Heritage Auction 232251 (December 2022, Lot 64646)." 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 not rare but is infrequently seen compared to the silver rupee. It is distinguished from the type issued 1862-76 by the obverse legend, "VICTORIA EMPRESS" instead of "VICTORIA QUEEN." For 1885, the Bombay product comes with an raised "B" mintmark in the flower above "HALF" and Calcutta is marked with an incuse "C". The mintmarks (or lack of them) varied from year to year.
Recorded mintage: 390,000 plus 1,408,000 from Calcutta; both are scarce dates.
Specification: 5.83 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM 491, S&W-6.194.
- 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]Cristiano Bierrenbach, Warren Tucker and Sam Spiegel, 2026 September 1 - 5 ANA World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction #3135, featuring The Vila Rica Collection of Brazilian Gold Coins, Part II, and The Grundy Collection of Latin American and Spanish Coins, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2026.
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