2020-02-01 Sat

In India, East India Company’sHalf-Anna was first issued from the mint Madras in the year 1838 carrying the year 1835. Bombay mint, however, started minting this copper half-anna from 1844.

Name any Indian coin collector, 1835 Half-anna would be amongst the first British India / EIC coin in their collection. This coin was special as it was carrying the coat of arms on a milled coin. The design of this coat of arms is credited to one gentleman namely Puteet.

The obverse side of this coin depicts arms of the company; date 1835 is written below Coat of arms between scroll and ribbon. The motto on the ribbon is written as AUSP: REG: &SEN:AGN:

The reverse side of the coin is inscribed with the value within a wreath of laurel: ONE ANNA; Value in Persian 'Do Pai', is written between the tips of the wreath.

The obverse side and reverse side of this half-anna are divided into two varieties. The border style of this half-anna is of two varieties plain and beaded. The border width of this coin one in which border-width may be thin and raised and border width is broad and flat.

Half Annas were minted from the two mints Madras and Bombay for currency purposes. Proof in copper and silver are recorded to be minted from Calcutta mint.

Officially the weight was 12.95g however the actual weight varies from 12.92-13.41 gram! Collector has to rely on the planchet size to arrive at the mint. Madras mint half annas were slightly bigger than Bombay mint. The half anna minted in Madras has a diameter of around 30.7-31.2 mm. The half-Anna with the Bombay mint bears its diameter around 29.5-30.5mm.

Image Courtesy: Imperial auction