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George V
1911-C Rupee (Obverse)
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The
Coins of British India
King George V
(1911-1936)
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George V
1918-B Rupee (Reverse)
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relative size. For more information on a coin, either scroll down
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1/2 Rupee |
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(Silver) |
2 Annas
(Copper-Nickel) |
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1/4 Anna |
1/2 Pice |
1/12 Anna |
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King Edward VII died on May 6, 1910 and was followed to the throne
by his son King George V, who had his coronation on June 22, 1911.
Coins were minted in India with the effigy of King George V from
1911 to 1936. Due to the increase in the price of silver caused
by World War I (1914-1918) the silver 1/2 Rupee, 1/4 Rupee and
2 Annas were discontinued and new cupro-nickel coins introduced
(8 Annas, 4 Annas, 2 Anna) to join the cupro-nickel 1 Anna coin).
These new coins were not popular, though, so the 8 Anna and 4
Anna coins were discontinued shortly after introduction. The 1/4
Rupee and 1/2 Rupee silver coins quickly resumed production.
An interesting story is about the so-called "Pig Rupee".
On the 1911 issues of the Rupee, Half Rupee, Quarter Rupee, Two
Annas and 1/4 Anna the King is shown wearing a robe with a small
elephant on it. This elephant was thought to resemble a pig with
the trunk appearing to be a pig snout and the short legs not appearing
very elephant-like. This offended the religious sensibilities
of many, so most of the Rupees minted for 1911 were withheld from
circulation and later melted. The 1912 coins had a redesigned
elephant.
Click on photos below for a larger photo in
a popup window
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One Rupee (1911-1936)
Y-45 KM-523/524
The Rupee was minted in both Calcutta and Bombay. There is
no mint mark for Calcutta. The Bombay issues have a small
dot on the reverse under the ornate near the bottom of the
coin (see illustration). The first year of issue (1911) has
an elephant on the Kings robe that was considered to resemble
a pig, thus the variety is known as the "pig rupee"
(Type I). This variant is also on the 1/2 Rupee, the 1/4 Rupee,
the 2 Annas and the 1/4 Anna coins. The elephant figure was
redesigned (Type II) and this design was used on all issues
starting in 1912.
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Obverse (Type II)
1912-1936 (KM-524)
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1/2 Rupee (1911-1936)
Y-44 KM-521/522
Similar to the Rupee, the 1/2 Rupee has the same variety as the "Pig
Rupee" for 1911 (though only from the Calcutta mint ... see Rupee
for photos of elephant design) and has the same placement of the dot
mint mark for the issues of Bombay. Minting was briefly interrupted
when the attempt was made to replace it with the 8 Annas issue in
1919. The coin was issued in 1919 but not in 1920. Minting was resumed
in 1921. It was not minted in 1931 and 1932. According to D. Chakravarty's
book dies must have been produced for 1932 but not used. He goes on
to say that the early 1933 coins were produced by punching a "3"
over the "2" and that this is clearly visible on the coins.
Obverse (Type II)
1912-1936 (KM-522)
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1/4 Rupee (1911-1936)
Y-43 KM-517/518
The 1/4 Rupee also had the "pig" variety in 1911 coin (see
Rupee for photos of elephant design). After the
1920 issue it was discontinued and replaced with the 4 Annas. However,
after the 4 Annas was dropped the 1/4 Rupee was resumed in 1925.
Obverse (Type II)
1912-1936 (KM-518)
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8 Annas - Copper-Nickel (1919-1920)
Y-41 KM-520
This coin was introduced in 1919 to replace the silver Half Rupee,
because of the increased price of silver. It wasn't very popular,
though, and due to this and a large number of counterfeits, it was
discontinued in 1920 and withdrawn from circulation (it ceased to
be legal tender in October 1924). In 1920 it was produced only at
the Bombay mint.
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4 Annas - Copper-Nickel (1919-1921)
Y-40 KM-519
Like the 8 Annas, this coin was introduced in 1919 to replace its
silver equivalent, the 1/4 Rupee. It was discontinued after the 1921
issue. Unlike the 8 Annas, it was not withdrawn from circulation and
continued to be legal tender.
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Two Annas - Silver (1911-1917)
Y-42 KM-514/515
The first year of issue 1911 shows the "pig" elephant on
the King's robe, like the larger silver coins (see Rupee
for photos of elephant design). Equal to 1/8 Rupee, it was discontinued
after the 1917 issue, replaced by the Copper-Nickel version. It was
produced at both the Calcutta and Bombay mints, no mint mark for Calcutta
and a "dot" mint mark under the ornate (lotus flower) at
the bottom reverse of the coin for Bombay.
Obverse (Type II)
1912-1917 (KM-515)
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2 Annas - Copper-Nickel (1918-1936)
Y-39 KM-516
This copper-nickel coin was introduced to replace the silver 2 Annas
coin, due to the high cost of silver. Unlike the situation with the
higher denomination coins, this coin was not discontinued and was
minted through the end of the George V era. It was produced by both
the Calcutta mint (no mint mark) and the Bombay mint ("dot"
mint mark at the bottom of the reverse).
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1 Anna - Copper-Nickel (1912-1936)
Y-38 KM-513
This copper-nickel coin, similar to the Edward 7 One Anna coin introduced
in 1906, was minted only in Bombay 1912-1920, according to the Krause
catalog. It had no mint mark during these years. After not being minted
for two years 1921-1922 minting was resumed at both mints, with the
"dot" mint mark indicating the Bombay mint. The coin was
not minted with the dates 1931 or 1932, also.
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1/4 Anna (1911-1936)
Y-37 KM-511/512
The 1/4 Anna also had the "pig" variety in 1911 coin (see
Rupee for photos of elephant design).
Obverse (Type II)
1912-1936 (KM-512)
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1/2 Pice (1912-1936)
Y-36 KM-510
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1930-C Cupro-Nickel variant
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1/12 Anna (1912-1936)
Y-35 KM-509
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1926-C Cupro-Nickel variant (validity in doubt)
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The validity of the Cupro-Nickel variety is in doubt and my copy may be simply a plated coin.
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