India 1889-C 2 annas
This specimen was lot 1981 in Stephen Album sale 43 (Santa Rosa, CA, May 2022), where it sold for $264. The catalog description[1] noted, "BRITISH INDIA: Victoria, Empress, 1876-1901, AR 2 annas, 1889(c), a wonderful mint state example! PCGS graded MS64." This type was issued at Calcutta and Bombay 1877-1901 in a bewildering array of varieties, including proofs, off-metal strikes and restrikes. This specimen is a product of the Bombay mint. The type was the smallest silver coin and was equal to 1/8 rupee; it was superseded by a copper-nickel coin in 1918. It is distinguished from the type issued 1862-76 by the obverse legend, "VICTORIA EMPRESS" instead of "VICTORIA QUEEN." The 1889-C has an incuse mintmark and is common; the reported mintage is likely a misprint.
Recorded mintage: 135,000, a common date.
Specification: 1.46 g, 0.917 fine silver, .043 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-488, S&W-6.397, Prid-504.
- 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]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 43, Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2021.
Link to: