India 1840 to 1850 – Victoria Continuous Legend – Rupee

The new rupees were announced by proclamation dated 18.11.1840. This stated that from and after 11th November for Calcutta and from and after 1.4.1841 for Bombay and Madras, the coins would bear the effigy of Queen Victoria. Striking of the coins continued for a number of years until the matrix dies became worn. A new design, the so-called 'divided legend' type, was prepared by William Wyon and began to be used in Calcutta in 1850 and Bombay and Madras in 1851.

The obverse die for the Victorian coinage originated from a matrix die prepared in England under the inspection of Mr. Boulton [1]. This required some local modifications [2] [3], which were undertaken at Calcutta and then shipped to Bombay and Madras. Some coins bear the initial S on the truncation of the neck, and this is attributed to J. T. Smith, who was master of the mint at Madras from February 1840 to September 1855.

Coins with the S initial on the bust, therefore, can be attributed to Madras. In addition, Pridmore uses two privy marks to assign coins to the various mints. Some coins have a tiny crescent on the left part of the ribbon bow on the reverse. These he assigns to Calcutta. However, this mark is very difficult to see. Some coins have a tiny v on the right part of the ribbon, and these he attributes to Madras. Again, this mark is so tiny that it is difficult to see. However, using these marks it is possible to determine that the diameter of the coins is an easier guide to the mint of manufacture. Coins of 31.1 to 31.4 mm come from Calcutta; 31.6 to 31.7 mm from Bombay; and 31.8 to 32.3 mm from Madras.

As stated above, the crescent on the bow on the reverse (see below), because it is in relief, is often worn away, so its absence can be due to wear. However, this feature has been included in the main part of the catalogue because Pridmore has established it. The distinction between 'Indian' and 'English' heads is not easy to see, with the shape of the nose probably being the best comparator (see pictures of obverse varieties). There are a number of minor 'varieties' that have not been included in the catalogue, such as reverse varieties identified by presence and absence of leaf veins, simply because these minute differences are very hard to identify.

All these differences make the varieties difficult to distinguish one from another. The simplest approach is probably to start with diameter and identify the mint. This can then be followed by each of the features in the tables showing obverse and reverse varieties. Proof restrikes were all struck at the Bombay Mint and therefore diameters may not match design varieties.

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[1] Bengal Consultations. IOR P/162/90, April 1839, No 8.

Letter from the Court of Directors to ‘Our Governor of the Presidency’ dated 4^th January 1839 (received in India April 1839)

We forward for the use of the Calcutta mint a matrix die for the rupee coinage. We have thought it necessary to provide the die only for the obverse side of the coin (the head of the Queen) concluding that artists may readily be found on the spot perfectly competent to the execution of the reverse. The die now forwarded has been completed under the inspection of Mr Boulton of Birmingham and the likeness and execution are satisfactory.

Letter from Government to the Calcutta Mint Committee dated 3^rd April 1839

I am directed by the Deputy Governor of Bengal to transmit to you the annexed copy of a letter from the Honble the Court of Directors dated the 4^th January last with the matrix die for the rupee coinage prepared under the inspection of Mr Boulton of Birmingham.

You will be pleased to report by what time preparation can be made for coining with the device of this die in order that the necessary notice on the subject may be issued by the Government of India.

[2] Bengal Consultations. IOR P/162/90, December 1839, No 6

Letter to the Mint Committee from Government, dated 27^th November 1839

…and to desire that you will report whether dies for the device fo the coin of India bearing the effigy of the reigning sovereign will be ready for adoption in the mint of this Presidency by the commencement of next year…

[3] Bengal Consultations. IOR P/162/90, December 1839, No 13

Letter from the Calcutta Mint Committee to Government, dated 14^th December 1839

…The Mint Master reports that in a short time he will be prepared to commence the coinage of rupees having the effigy of the present sovereign upon them, but from the circumstances of the Honble Court having promised dies for half and quarter rupees, which have not yet arrived, no efforts have been made to obtain proportionably reduced effigies of these coins. With the view of allowing time for the multiplication of rupee dies and for the promised dies to arrive, the Mint Master does not consider it expedient to commence the new coinage before the ensuing 1^st of March. In the propriety of this delay and from the fact that the Mint Master is liable to be called upon at any instant for half and quarter rupees so as to make it inexpedient to commence coining rupees of the new device until the fractional devices are also ready, we entirely acquiesce.

Captain Smith in his report to the Madras Government having impugned the artistical execution of the coinage of this mint so far as concerns the device of the Company’s rupee hitherto coined, in accuracy of which we as well as the Mint Master entirely agree. The Mint Master has reminded us that in the original communications to the Honorable Court in 1819 the necessity for a properly qualified die engraver was strongly pointed out to the Honorable Court, and that then the appointment of an engraver consequent upon that representation was only then not made because the Mint was not sufficiently advanced to require his services.

We think it our duty to state that we have had every reason to be satisfied with our present engraver of whose efforts to produce an effigy of Her Present Majesty from a sovereign we have the honor to forward a specimen. But as he is at present the only competent engraver, [he] has resisted every solicitation of the officers of the mint to instruct others in his art, who might take up his duty when he was unwell or eventually succeed him, we are bound in duty to declare our conviction that it has become absolutely necessary that an able engraver should be sent out by the Honble Court to take upon him jointly with Kassinauth the duty of die engraver and of plates of steel or copper as the Mint Master and the Accountant General for the time being shall direct, and to instruct such persons in the art of engraving, to be his assistants and successors as the Mint Committee for the time being shall direct to be placed under his instructions for these purposes.

We are unable to say what salary should be allowed to a properly qualified engraver in this country, but from the circumstance of his being employed by the Honble Court we are inclined to conclude that like Mr Wyon of the Royal Mint he would have some private business in the course of time, which he could execute independently of his public engagement, but what this might yield we are totally unable to predict.