India 1886-B 1/4 rupee
This specimen was lot 38676 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2025), where it sold for $105. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. 1/4 Rupee, 1886-B. Bombay Mint. Victoria. NGC AU-50." 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 1886, the Bombay product comes with an incuse "B" mintmark in the flower above "¼" and Calcutta is marked with an incuse "C". Some of the 1886's lack a mintmark but this example has one. The mintmarks (or lack of them) varied from year to year.
Recorded mintage: 1,684,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 2.92 g, 0.917 fine silver, .086 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-490; S&W-6.285; Prid-419.
- 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, January 2025 NYINC Showcase Auction, featuring the Richard Margolis Collection, Part III, and the Richard August Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
Links to: