BI Contemporary Counterfeits

[Figleaf]

Agreed, Harry. It's a great research piece. Undoubtedly fake, probably not modern. Here are two theories:

1. Jeweller's piece to be worked into jewelry. The date is a giveaway for other jewellers
2. Burmese imitation made for the drugs industry. There is a history of complaints about "lack of coins" in Burma at the time it was using the British Indian rupee. This is quite uncharacteristic of the times. The British were at this time quite capable of supplying their colonies with sufficient coins. Yet, Burmese imitations confirm that there was a demand for coins. Burma always was an important source of opium and other drugs. It would not be strange to find that the lack of coins existed in the drugs industry, especially the part where byers buy the raw material from farmers.

The problem with the latter theory is that while the Burmese imitations are generally of excellent quality, they are usually in a cheap metal, while Tanka's coin looks like it is of good silver. Therefore, I prefer the first theory.

Peter

[Md. Shariful Islam]

Today I took the coin to jewellers for taking weight of it. I usually buy most of my coins from him and now we are very free in discussion. I showed him the coin. Follow our interesting discussions:
1. His first impression was that the last digit was changed.
2. Then I asked him to compare this coin with his regular coins of Edward. Then he changed his previous comments. He agreed that the digits are thicker. The reverse is flatter and the inscriptions is less prominent compared to genuine ones.

When the coin is different from the genuine ones, what is the use of anticipating that the last digit is changed? In my logic no need of it. Now about some issues that is on the positive sides:
1. A cent percent ping. Jeweller also tested.
2. Two lumps on two sides on the field (negative side).
3. Pure silver.
Last observation, I noticed today:
1. There is incused 'B' on the crown (faded one).
2. No dot on the right hand lower bud of the vine.

[anand]

Considering that the coin is of silver and also has a faded 'B' in the crown.

would it be possible that this was a regular coin with only the date tampered with?

Anand

[Md. Shariful Islam]

Considering that the coin is of silver and also has a faded 'B' in the crown.

would it be possible that this was a regular coin with only the date tampered with?

Anand

Possibly so. But the problem is that the coin is different. My experience on BI rupees clearly suggests me that the coin is different. My unsolved questions about the coin are:
1. If the date is tampered from regular coin, why is it different? One added feature that supports that the coin is not regular one, is its weight (11.35 grams).

2. If not regular, that is a struck coin for sure. It seems to me as contemporary. If so, was there struck fakes that time?

3. If fake, such small incuse B. Was that mandatory to keep in  a fake by the fakers?

[andyg]

It does at first glance look like an altered date genuine coin - it's only when studied against another that you realise the lettering is wrong as well...

Impressive coin though!

[Md. Shariful Islam]

It does at first glance look like an altered date genuine coin - it's only when studied against another that you realise the lettering is wrong as well...

Impressive coin though!

Right Andy. That's why I love the coin. The coin is special to me. A puzzle to me.

[akona20]

A jeweller's apprentice work piece is my guess.

[repindia]

My friend picked up a lot of counterfeit coins when on a trip to Haridwar. These were all coins similar to the 1901 Edward VII coin of Tanka-- 1930's date of Victoria, 1880's for George V and so on. These were all silver and purchased for multiples of melt and my friend thought these were all rare. I don't know about this particular coin but the ones my friend showed me were all modern counterfeit. I would lean towards the 1901 coin being a modern counterfeit too. The good thing is that these still contain silver.

[akona20]

Please note that I am looking to purchase contemporary counterfeit Mughal ruler rupees particularly of the fouree type.

[repindia]

Please note that I am looking to purchase contemporary counterfeit Mughal ruler rupees particularly of the fouree type.

I find these most fascinating. A few years back a seller sold me one copper "pattern" of a Bengal Presidency Rupee for something like $50 or so. He was happy to pass this "fake" onto me as a "rare pattern". I had noticed the silvering on the high points and knew exactly what it was and was happy to have received it too. So this story had a happy ending for all parties involved. 

[Md. Shariful Islam]

My friend picked up a lot of counterfeit coins when on a trip to Haridwar. These were all coins similar to the 1901 Edward VII coin of Tanka-- 1930's date of Victoria, 1880's for George V and so on. These were all silver and purchased for multiples of melt and my friend thought these were all rare. I don't know about this particular coin but the ones my friend showed me were all modern counterfeit. I would lean towards the 1901 coin being a modern counterfeit too. The good thing is that these still contain silver.

Is it possible to upload some pics of those coins of your friend? That will be helpful to learn about counterfeits.