India 1840(m) rupee KM-457
This specimen was lot 75058 in Stack's Bowers Collectors Choice sale (Costa Mesa, CA, September 2024), where it sold for $1,200. The catalog description[1] noted, "INDIA. British East India Company. Rupee, 1840.-(M). Madras Mint. Victoria. NGC MS-63. Variety with dot after date and 19 berries. This captivating Rupee is tied with one other for finest certified by NGC. It is not difficult to see why: the young portrait of Victoria is exceptionally fresh, while the intricate reverse offers a solid strike that escapes nearly any sign of handling. Dark gunmetal gray tone blooms into vibrant iridescent color that beams energetically due to the abundance of original luster. A true beauty in this Choice Mint State grade." This type was struck at Madras, Bombay and Calcutta in numerous varieties for the East India Company with a frozen date until the introduction of the "Victoria Queen" rupee (KM 473) in 1862. Two major types exist; the first, with "VICTORIA QUEEN" in a continuous legend (KM 457, shown here), and the second, with the legend interrupted by the queen's bust (KM 458). Many varieties exist in the number and placement of the berries in the reverse wreath.
Recorded mintage: 55,049,000 (all varieties).
Specification: 11.66 g, 0.917 fine silver.
Catalog reference: KM-457.6; S&W-2.26; Prid-45.
- 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, September 2024 World Collectors Choice Online Auction, Costa Mesa, CA: Stack's Bowers Galleries, Inc., 2024.
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