India 1888-B rupee
This specimen was lot 72595 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, May 2023), where it sold for $240. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. Rupee, 1888-B. Bombay Mint. Victoria. PCGS MS-62. Raised "B" mintmark. Argent and bright, this Rupee delivers crisp Mint State details. An attractive problem-free example that will please any collector of British Indian issues." 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. This date comes with an incuse and a raised mintmark. The Calcutta mint added another 7,568,000 in 1888.
Recorded mintage: 63,200,000 plus restrikes.
Specification: 11.66 g, 0.917 fine silver, 30.79 mm diameter, .343 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-492; S&W-6.107; Prid-174.
- 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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