India 1889-C 2 annas
This specimen was lot 1981 in Stephen Album sale 43 (Santa Rosa, CA, May 2022), where it sold for $264. The catalog description[1] noted, "BRITISH INDIA: Victoria, Empress, 1876-1901, AR 2 annas, 1889(c), a wonderful mint state example! PCGS graded MS64." This type was issued at Calcutta and Bombay 1877-1901 in a bewildering array of varieties, including proofs, off-metal strikes and restrikes. This specimen is a product of the Bombay mint. The type was the smallest silver coin and was equal to 1/8 rupee; it was superseded by a copper-nickel coin in 1918. It is distinguished from the type issued 1862-76 by the obverse legend, "VICTORIA EMPRESS" instead of "VICTORIA QUEEN." The 1889-C has an incuse mintmark and is common; the reported mintage is likely a misprint.
Recorded mintage: 135,000, a common date.
Specification: 1.46 g, .917 fine silver, .043 troy oz ASW.
Catalog reference: KM-488, S&W-6.397, Prid-504.
- 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]Album, Stephen, Joseph Lang, Paul Montz, Michael Barry and Norman Douglas Nicol, Auction 43, featuring the Dick Nanta Collection of Giray Khans, Part II, the Charles Opitz Collection of Ethnographic Money, Part II, and the Allan F. Pacela Collection of Chinese Coins. Santa Rosa, CA: Stephen Album Rare Coins, Inc., 2021.
Link to: