Kashmir VS1946 rupee
This specimen was lot 56402 in Stack's Bowers ANA sale (Pittsburgh, PA, August 2023), where it sold for $480. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. Kashmir. Rupee, VS 1946 (1889). Pratap Singh (under George VI as Emperor). PCGS MS-64. The sole finest certified example holdered by PCGS. From the Nicholas Fritz Collection." This type was struck VS 1942-1952. We don't know why the Kashmiri rupee weighed only half that of the British Indian rupee. The SCWC prices all the dates the same; this example realized over nine times the catalog value. The Vikram Samvat calendar is 57 years ahead of the AD date altho it starts in April rather than January 1. Pratap Singh ruled 1884-1925. He was long dead before the accession of George VI.
Recorded mintage: unknown.
Specification: 6.65 g, silver.
Catalog reference: KM-Y24.
- Michael, Thomas, and Tracy L. Schmidt, Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1801-1900, 9th ed., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 2019.
- [1]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, August 2023 Global Showcase Auction, World & Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2023.
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