India 1915(b) 2 annas
This specimen was lot 71687 in Stack's Bowers Collector's Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, June 2021), where it sold for $80. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. 2 Annas, 1915-(B). Bombay Mint. PCGS MS-64 Gold Shield. Quite engaging and full of character, this near-Gem minor offers a delightful burnished amber-olive tone that is further enlivened by cartwheel luster that greatly catches the light." The two annas was 1/32nd of a rupee and was the smallest silver denomination struck under the predecimal system. It was struck in moderate numbers for George V 1912-17. The absence of a dot below the date marks this as a product of the Calcutta mint. The denomination was converted to copper-nickel in 1918 and struck in that form until 1941.
Reported Mintage: 5,943,000 plus proofs.
Specification: 1.46 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-515; S&W-8.210; Prid-574.
- 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]Orsini, Matt, Kyle Ponterio and Jeremy Bostwick, The June 2021 Collector's Choice sale: World and Ancient Coins, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers LLC, 2021.
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