India 1939(b) 2 annas

from the Stack's Bowers June 2021 Collector's Choice sale, lot 71694

This specimen was lot 71694 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $110. The catalog description^[1] noted, "INDIA. 2 Annas, 1939-(B). Bombay Mint. PCGS MS-65 Gold Shield. Diamond shaped. Variety with short trefoils. The single finest example certified by PCGS. A four sided coin, which is always a stand out, that has champagne hue toning and enticing cartwheel luster." A high relief head was struck for George VI in 1939 but, having proved unsatisfactory, was revised to this low relief design for 1939-41. The outbreak of World War Two spelled the end of the Raj and the British left in 1947, ending the series.

Recorded mintage: 3,392,000 including KM 540 (high relief head).

Specification: 5.84 g, copper-nickel, 25 mm diameter.

Catalog reference: KM-541; S&W-9.111; Prid-914.

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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.

Link to:

• 1936(b) 2 annas
• 1939(b) 1/12 anna
• 1939(b) anna
• 1939(c) 2 annas, high relief bust
• 1939(b) half rupee, all varieties
• 1939(c) half rupee, all varieties
• 1939(b) rupee
• 1940(b) 2 annas, low relief bust
• 1940(c) 2 annas
• Coins and currency dated 1939