Edward VII
1909 Rupee (Obverse)



The Coins of British India
King Edward VII
(1903-1910)


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Edward VII
1909 Rupee (Reverse)

All the coins showing relative size. For more information on a coin, either scroll down or click on a coin.

Rupee

1/2 Rupee

1/4 Rupee

2 Annas

1 Anna

1/4 Anna

1/2 Pice

1/12 Anna

After Queen Victoria died in 1901, King Edward VII ascended the throne. The Edward VII series of coins of India are dated 1903-1910. There are four silver coins (Rupee, 1/2 Rupee, 1/4 Rupee and 2 Annas) and three copper coins (1/4 Anna, 1/2 Pice and 1/12 Anna). A cupro-nickel 1 Anna coin was introduced in 1906. That same year the copper coins were replace by bronze issues with the same obverse and reverse designs but a thinner plancet. The 1906 coins come in both varieties.

The King Edward VII coins are distinct in that the head is uncrowned. The apparent explanation is, though Queen Victoria died on 22 January 1901, Edward's coronation was not held till 9 August 1902. The master dies were created before the coronation, so it was not possible to show him wearing the crown! It is reported that a new portrait was prepared for 1910, but King Edward's death that year prevented the issue of any coins. The 1 Anna introduced in 1906 does have a portrait of the King wearing his crown.

It is said that collecting this series is much easier than with the Victoria series, but that it is also more boring. It is true that this series doesn't have variety in the obverse and reverse designs, but there are still a few interesting challenges for collectors. The regular reference books seem less helpful than with Victoria in describing the few details of special interest to collectors.

Click on photos below for a larger photo in a popup window

One Rupee (1903-1910)
Y-34    KM-508

The Rupee was minted in both Calcutta and Bombay. There is no mint mark for Calcutta. The Bombay issues have a small incuse "B" (the 1903 Rupee also has a raised "B" variety). The incuse "B" mint mark can be impossible to see, though, so it is fortunate there is a second, more prominent mark, a "dot" on the stem of the lotus-bud (lower right on reverse). According to D. Chakravarty in his book "Coins of India" this was intentional. He says, "Since the 'dot' itself was found adequate to distinguish the products of the mint, and there was no need to have a conspicuous mint-mark, as an incuse 'B', from 1906 onward there was apparently an attempt to erase the 'B', but not very successfully." Various traces of the 'B' may be seen, but use the 'dot' on the lotus-bud stem to identify the mint.

There is an interesting (and scarce) variety on the reverse of some 1903-C Rupees. The normal configuration of five dots is missing the lower dot. See the illustration below. The explanation seems to be that the engraver was not familiar with Persian script, so he made a mistake and left out one dot. This was soon rectified, so this rare error exists only on the first year of issue.

1/2 Rupee (1905-1910)
Y-33   KM-507

The 1/2 Rupee was minted in both Calcutta and Bombay. A proof 1/2 Rupee exists dated 1904, but the regular issues started in 1905. There is no mint mark for Calcutta. The Bombay issues have a small incuse "B" (the 1910 1/2 Rupee also has a raised "B" variety).


incuse "B" mint mark

"dot" on lotus-bud stem
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1/4 Rupee (1903-1910)
Y-32    KM-506

The 1/4 Rupee was minted only in Calcutta. There are no variants and no mint marks.

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2 Annas (1905-1910)
Y-31   KM-505

The 2 Annas coin was minted only in Calcutta. There are no variants and no mint marks reported in the literature. However, below is a photo from William Naquin showing a dot on the lotus stem similar to the Bombay mint mark on the Rupee coin as shown above.

xxx
Variant discovered by William E. Naquin.
Detail of dot on lotus stem found
on some 1910 2 annas coins.
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1 Anna (1906-1910)
Y-30    KM-504

The 1 Anna coin was minted only in Bombay. Very few coins were issued in the first year (1906). After this copper-nickel coin was introduced it apparently became very popular. It is normally found in worn condition. The coins have an incuse "B" mint mark in the crown on the obverse of the coin. It is the only coin in the Edward VII series showing a crowned head. The scalloped edge of the coin has 12 crests, which correspond to its value of 12 pies.

^
incuse "B" mint mark
on the crown

(center/bottom edge
of photograph)
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1/4 Anna (1903-1910)
Y-29    KM-501/502

The 1/4 Anna coin was minted only in Calcutta. There are no variants and no mint marks. In 1906 the composition was changed from copper to bronze (95% copper, 4% tin, 1% zinc). This was probably due to the International price of copper increasing. The new bronze coins were thinner (see illustration below). Both versions of the coin were minted in 1906.


Copper thick planchet on left
bronze thin planchet on right
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1/2 Pice (1903-1910)
Y-28    KM-499/500

The 1/2 Pice coin was minted only in Calcutta. There are no variants and no mint marks. In 1906 the composition was changed from copper to bronze (95% copper, 4% tin, 1% zinc). The new bronze coins were thinner (see illustration below). Both versions of the coin were minted in 1906.


Copper thick planchet on left
bronze thin planchet on right
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1/12 Anna (1903-1910)
Y-27    KM-497/498

The 1/12 Anna coin was minted only in Calcutta. There are no variants and no mint marks. In 1906 the composition was changed from copper to bronze (95% copper, 4% tin, 1% zinc). The new bronze coins were thinner (see illustration below). Both versions of the coin were minted in 1906.


Copper thick planchet on left
bronze thin planchet on right
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Last Update: 20-April-2010


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