India 1939(b) rupee KM-555
This specimen was lot 1426 in Ponterio sale 173 (New York, January 2013), where it sold for $9,400. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. Rupee, 1939. Bombay Mint. NGC AU-58. VERY RARE 1939 Bombay Mint Rupee. RARE date. Reeded edge. Lightly toned. From the Sanjay Gandhi Collection." The minting of silver rupees was substantial during the first part of George V's reign but ended in 1922. A few presentation pieces were made 1935-36 but production for circulation did not resume until 1938. This type, with fineness at .917 silver, was issued 1938-39; a later type (KM 556), with the silver lowered to 0.500 fine, was issued 1939-45.
Recorded mintage: 2,450,000.
Specification: 11.66 g, 0.917 fine silver, .343 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-555; Prid-235.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th 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]Ponterio, Richard, Ponterio Sale 173: The January NYINC 2013 Auction, Irvine, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2012.
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