India 1889-C rupee

from the Stack's Bowers 2020 Collector's Choice sale, lot 71071

This specimen was lot 71071 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Santa Ana, CA, February 2020), where it sold for $384. The catalog description^[1] noted, "INDIA. Rupee, 1889-C. Calcutta Mint. Victoria. PCGS MS-64 Gold Shield. A golden toned Rupee of India. A beautiful coin with strong eye appeal. British Colonial issue with portrait of a crowned queen Victoria. She ruled 1837-1901." This type was issued at Calcutta and Bombay 1877-1901 in a bewildering array of varieties, including proofs, off-metal strikes and restrikes. This date comes with an incuse mintmark. The type is the largest silver denomination. It is distinguished from the type issued 1862-76 by the obverse legend, "VICTORIA EMPRESS" instead of "VICTORIA QUEEN."

Recorded mintage: 9,368,000 from Calcutta plus 65,300,000 (raised & incuse mintmark) from Bombay.

Specification: 11.66 g, .917 silver, 30.79 mm diameter, .343 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: KM-492.

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, Richard Ponterio and Kyle Ponterio, The February 2020 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Santa Ana, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2020.

Link to:

• 1888-B rupee
• 1888-C rupee
• 1888-B half rupee
• 1888-C half rupee
• 1889(b) ¼ anna
• 1889(c) ¼ anna
• 1889-B 2 annas
• 1889-C 2 annas
• 1889-B quarter rupee
• 1889-C quarter rupee
• 1889-C half rupee
• 1889-B rupee
• 1889(c) mohur
• 1890-C rupee
• 1890-B rupee
• Coins and currency dated 1889