India 1889-C rupee
This specimen was lot 71071 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, February 2020), where it sold for $384. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. Rupee, 1889-C. Calcutta Mint. Victoria. PCGS MS-64 Gold Shield. A golden toned Rupee of India. A beautiful coin with strong eye appeal. British Colonial issue with portrait of a crowned queen Victoria. She ruled 1837-1901." This type was issued at Calcutta and Bombay 1877-1901 in a bewildering array of varieties, including proofs, off-metal strikes and restrikes. This date comes with an incuse mintmark. The type is the largest silver denomination. It is distinguished from the type issued 1862-76 by the obverse legend, "VICTORIA EMPRESS" instead of "VICTORIA QUEEN."
Recorded mintage: 9,368,000 from Calcutta plus 65,300,000 (raised & incuse mintmark) from Bombay.
Specification: 11.66 g, .917 silver, 30.79 mm diameter, .343 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-492.
- 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, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The February 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.
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