Queen Victoria - Half Pice 1853

Country: East India Company. Queen Victoria of Great Britain
Type: Standard circulation coin
Year: 1853 (Mint: Calcutta)
Value: 1/2 Pice (1/128)
Currency: East India Company Rupee (1770-1862)
Composition: Copper 
Weight: 3.1 g.
Diameter: 21  mm
Mintage: 62,408,583
Grade: MS/UNC
Shape: Round
Orientation: Medal alignment ↑↑
References: KM# 464, Pr# 159, Pr# 160

Obverse:
Coat of Arms of the East India Company (2 lions, St George's cross on the crest and flags, and the motto "AUSP: REG: SEN: ANG:" ("Auspicio Regis et Senatus Angliae") on the ribbon.

Lettering:
1853
AUSP: REG: SEN: ANG:

Translation:
1853
By the Command of the King and Parliament of England.

Reverse:
The value within a laurel wreath:1/2 PICE with the legend "EAST INDIA COMPANY" surrounding and a flat raised rim.

Lettering:
EAST INDIA COMPANY
½
PICE

Edge:
Plain.

Mint:
Kolkata / Calcutta / Murshidabad, India (1757-date).

Comments:
- Minor variations occur in date numerals.
- In 1848, in response to the Court of Directors request that copper coin be superseded by silver fractions of a rupee, the Government of India produced a report that included, inter alia, the reference to the fact that cowrie shells still passed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 Bengal. The Government of India agreed to this and coinage started at the Calcutta mint in 1853, which is the fixed date shown on the obverse of the coin.

Riferimento : KM# 464, Pr# 159, Pr# 160

Fonte : https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces2...

Collezione : East India Company (1600-1858-1874))