Coins of India by Abhay Ghaisas

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Here is a silver two anna coin. This coin was equal to one eighth of the rupee. This was probably the smallest silver coin of this era. This is a very small coin, about the size of the new stainless still 10 paise that was current in late 1990s. On the obverse, we can find floral design all around with very small circle in the center left for all the text. The text reads "TWO ANNAS" and "INDIA" followed by the year of issue. The Urdu text "do aanaa" meaning two annas follows the English text.

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This is the silver quarter rupee issues in 1913 in the reign of George V. This is a smaller coin almost exactly the same size as the new steel 25 paise.

On the obverse, we can see grand floral design all around with a small circular portion left in the middle for all the text. The text reads "1/4 RUPEE" and "INDIA" followed by the year of issue. Below it, we find the Urdu "chaar aanaa" meaning four annas.

On the reverse, we see the portrait of King George V wearing the crown of India with the words "GEORGE V KING EMPEROR" around it.

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This is a half rupee silver coin from the times of King Edward VII. On the obverse, we can see the words "HALF RUPEE" and "INDIA" in English. From King Edward VII onwards, we see the Urdu wording also added. It says "hast aanaa" meaning "eight Annas". "hast" is a little uncommon word to use for eight as the more common word is "aaNTh". Some floral design on the sides adorns the coin, although the design is not as dense as coins of the King's predecessors or successors. Also, there is a crown right on top of the wordings.

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Here is the true rupee coin. Silver, about 11.6 grams (one "tola") was the age old definition of the Rupee. Here is one that was produced in the reign of Victoria.

The obverse gives the denomination in words as "ONE RUPEE" and the country and year. The reverse shows the portrait of the sovereign along with the words "VICTORIA QUEEN" around nearer to the border. The obverse also has a nice pattern resembling some creepers. Full 3 cm. across, the coin is really a beauty. It's like holding a piece of history in hand.