Resources and links on BI rupees

[Md. Shariful Islam]

I think that there is lack of listing of varieties in BI Rupees.  have seen that a minor difference has created a variety in Hafner Maria Theresa Thaler while this is not a case in Rupees. I think there is want of research that will compare the varieties the rupees and list them in a proper manner.

The following is a comparative photo of two varieties. The varieties have been collected from the website (http://jfcampbell.us/india/victoria/rupee-rev.htm). Here I see that the type 1 and type 3 has difference and that have been accepted as two separate varieties. Again type 2 and 4 are different and have been listed as two varieties. But I find a combination of two varieties (2 and 4) in 1885 Bombay Rupee. Still it is treated as type 2.

Look at the photo of type 2 where there I have arrowed the difference areas where it differs from type 4. Three difference are as follows:

1. The bottom of the lotus is open in type 2 while it is closed in type 4.
2. In type 2 the central stick (sorry for my poor English) is continuous while it is broken in type 4.
3. These two secondary sticks come from behind the central stick in type 2 while in type 4 they come from the source and are completely visible.

Now what I see in my 1885 Bombay type 2 is as follows:

1. The bottom lotus is open as type 2.
2. The central stick is brocken as type 4.
3. The two secondary sticks come fro the source and are completely visible as type 4.

Therefore, in 1885 Bombay type 2 has one characteristic that match with type 2 but the rest two match with type 4. Shouldn't that be a separate type?

Islam

[Md. Shariful Islam]

Hello Islam
Thanks for the details. Now i have fair idea about Victoria coins. For others are there any variants?
Can you give some details about which of these coins are rare and why?
Vivek

t
Thanks. I shall upload the link soon.

Islam

[Abhay]

Dear Vivek,

You can also refer to this site for British India Coins.

http://baldwin.co.uk/coins-of-india/

Abhay

[Arminius]

Thanks for the baldwin link.

Here is another enthusiast´s useful site specialized on the Coins of British India:

http://jfcampbell.us/india/

regards

[FosseWay]

My experience is that there is a huge number of possible variations on British India coins. Most of them have to do with defining the mint of issue, though it's not as simple as 'mintmark/feature X = mint Y', as the three main mints (Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, traditionally referred to by their initial letter, using the traditional British-influenced names) all have multiple identifiers depending on the denomination and date of issue. As with any currency, there are also variations in dies, head sizes, metal composition etc. that exist alongside the mint identifiers.

Some time ago, I began a project to codify the mint-related variations on EIC and imperial coins by using the information given in KM plus personal observation from the 500-odd British Indian coins I have. I haven't done much to it recently -- perhaps I'll get back to it once I've moved and settled in my new country. A lot of the info you require to attribute coins to the right mint is listed at the start of the India section in the 19th and 20th century volumes of KM, but personally I find the way it's presented rather confusing, hence my project. Some more information is sometimes given at the start of each denomination, reign or issue.

Suffice to say that mint identification can depend on:
• presence or absence of a dot (or several dots, especially on George VI coins)
• mintmark letters (generally raised or incuse C or B)
• alignment of design elements with respect to each other (e.g. the leafy circle on ¼ anna coins, where it makes a difference whether there's a leaf under the centre of the date or two leaves positioned under the first and last digits of the date)
• variations on the patterns on Queen Victoria's bodice
• differences in diameter -- especially on EIC issues and the 1862 imperial issue
• other pellets and marks.

This thread has stimulated me to look out what I've already done to list these varieties -- I'll post it somewhere if I can, but don't hold your breath!

[Md. Shariful Islam]

I am sure that we will be benefited from your work. Please get back to work AsAP.

Islam

[Vivek]

Thanks all for information!
I will try to identify rest of the coins I have...if not will post here .
Vivek

[Md. Shariful Islam]

Thanks all for information!
I will try to identify rest of the coins I have...if not will post here .
Vivek

Thanks to you too. But I encourage you to share your coins with us. Its a pleasure and opportunity to look at the collections of my friends.

Islam

[Md. Shariful Islam]

And I find this site as the most resourceful on British Indian coins. Probably the best that I've ever found.

Islam

[Arminius]

Nice to see so much like-minded collectors and useful links here.

What i so far pictured and attibuted on modern Indian coins is starting here on this page of my database.

Maybe someone has to tell me some errors or corrections. Hope to add more soon.

regards

[FosseWay]

OK, for Islam and anyone else who might be interested, attached is the explanation I started to compile for my own benefit to help me through the complexity of Indian colonial issues. Quickly scrolling through it I see that the fonts have got a bit screwed up (especially the Arabic font I used to render Urdu and Persian -- I seem not to have it any more) but it should be understandable. I also did this in the days before I had a scanner or digital camera. It would be much enhanced with pictures, which is something I may work on once I've settled in Sweden -- I've also got more Indian coins now than I did back then, so I can illustrate more varieties. If I get the whole thing somewhere near finished and to my satisfaction, which it's nowhere near yet, I may also lay it out in a proper layout program rather than Word. I hate trying to do proper typesetting in Word with a passion!

I've split the file into three otherwise it would be too big.

File 1: Introduction and EIC issues for the whole of India (1835 on)
File 2: Imperial issues: 1/12 anna -- 1/4 anna
File 3: Imperial issues 1/2, 1 and most of 2 annas.

That seems to be as far as I got. There should also be a 'Part I' at the beginning dealing with pre-1835 issues, but I don't seem to have done anything to this.

The file is also a bit rough and ready as I've split it up and probably messed with the pagination.

[Md. Shariful Islam]

Thanks a lot to Fosseway and Arminius. We will simply be benefited from your efforts. And Vivek, see you triggered a bullet and exploded as a morter shell.

Islam

[Md. Shariful Islam]

I request honourable moderators to split this thread into two:
1. Keep with this title prior tol the post Vivek with his coins.
2. From the post of Vivek with his coin another thread with title ' Resources and links on BI rupees'.

Islam

[akona20]

I have Pm'd Fosseway and asked if he would like to put his research on the Research board.

[FosseWay]

I will put my contribution on the research board -- I just need to find some time.

(Just to let you know I hadn't forgotten about it.)