India 1886-B 1/4 rupee

Stack's Bowers 2025 NYINC sale, lot 38676

This specimen was lot 38676 in Stack's Bowers NYINC sale (New York, January 2025), where it sold for $105. The catalog description^[1] noted, "INDIA. 1/4 Rupee, 1886-B. Bombay Mint. Victoria. NGC AU-50." This type was issued at Calcutta and Bombay 1877-1901 in a bewildering array of varieties, including proofs, off-metal strikes and restrikes. The type is not rare but is infrequently seen compared to the silver rupee. It is distinguished from the type issued 1862-76 by the obverse legend, "VICTORIA EMPRESS" instead of "VICTORIA QUEEN." For 1886, the Bombay product comes with an incuse "B" mintmark in the flower above "¼" and Calcutta is marked with an incuse "C". Some of the 1886's lack a mintmark but this example has one. The mintmarks (or lack of them) varied from year to year.

Recorded mintage: 1,684,000 plus proofs.

Specification: 2.92 g, 0.917 fine silver, .086 troy oz ASW.

Catalog reference: KM-490; S&W-6.285; Prid-419.

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, January 2025 NYINC Showcase Auction, featuring the Richard Margolis Collection, Part III, and the Richard August Collection, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.

Links to:

• 1884-B quarter rupee
• 1884-C quarter rupee
• 1886(b) 1/12 anna
• 1886-B 2 annas
• 1886-C 2 annas
• 1886-C quarter rupee
• 1886-C half rupee
• 1886-B rupee
• 1886-C rupee
• 1887-B quarter rupee
• Coins and currency dated 1886