India 1894-C 1/2 rupee
This specimen was lot 38667 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2025), where it sold for $840. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. 1/2 Rupee, 1894-C. Calcutta Mint. Victoria. NGC MS-62." 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 1894, the Bombay product comes with an incuse "B" mintmark in the flower above "HALF" and Calcutta is marked with an incuse "C". The mintmarks (or lack of them) varied from year to year.
Recorded mintage: 1,277,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 5.83 g, 0.917 fine silver, .171 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-491; S&W-6.221; Prid-278.
- 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.
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