India 1889-C 1/2 rupee

from Heritage sale 3114, lot 33718

This specimen was lot 33718 in Heritage sale 3114 (New York, January 2024), where it sold for $3,840. The lot description^[1] noted, "British India. Victoria 1/2 Rupee 1889-C MS64 NGC, Calcutta mint. A premium specimen that outranks the vast majority of those that come to market, with only two finer across both grading services." This type was struck 1877-1900 in substantial quantities altho nothing like the numbers of the rupee. Some dates are proof only. The "C" mintmark is incuse for 1889.

Recorded mintage: 2,331,000 plus 1,083,000 from Bombay.

Specification: 5.83 g, 0.917 fine silver.

Catalog reference: KM 491.

Source:

• 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, 2024 January 16 - 18 NYINC World Coins Signature Auction #3114, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2023.

Link to:

• 1888-B half rupee
• 1888-C half rupee
• 1889(b) ¼ anna
• 1889(c) ¼ anna
• 1889-B 2 annas
• 1889-C 2 annas
• 1889-B quarter rupee
• 1889-C quarter rupee
• 1889-B rupee
• 1889-C rupee
• 1889(c) mohur
• 1890 half anna
• 1891-B half rupee
• 1891-C half rupee
• Coins and currency dated 1889