India 1950(b) 1/2 rupee
This specimen was part of lot 35520 in Heritage sale 3038 (Dallas, January 2015), which sold for $1,175. The catalog description[1] noted, "Republic Seven-Coin Proof Set 1950-(B), Bombay mint, KM-PS1. Comprised of Pice - Rupee. All coins choice proof, with some lightly-toned. Sold with original I.G. Mint Bombay/Alipore envelopes." No Indian coins exist dated 1948-49, 1947 dated coins being used instead. When Nehru withdrew from the British Commonwealth and declared India a republic in 1950, new coins were issued, including this half rupee from the Bombay mint. The coinage was decimalized in 1957 and this denomination replaced by the fifty paisa.
Recorded mintage: 12,352,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 5 g, nickel.
Catalog reference: KM 6.1.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 47th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Bierrenbach, Cristiano, Warren Tucker and Scott Cordry, Heritage Signature Auction 3037, featuring the Empire, the Santa Catarina, the Law and the Santa Maria Collections, Dallas, TX: Heritage Auction Galleries, 2014.
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