India 1850 to 1860 – Victoria, Divided Legend – Half Pice
In
1848, in response to the Court of Directors’ request that copper coin be superseded
by silver fractions of a rupee, the Government of India produced a report that
included, inter alia, reference to
the fact that cowrie shells still passed current for small purchases in Bengal.
The Directors, having read this report, then revised their earlier view and suggested that a further copper denomination of half pice
should be added to the coinage for use in