2020-02-06 Thu

From the year 1935 until 1844 East India Company (EIC) continued to issue copper coins with style of William IV with the fixed date 1835 from Madras mint.

In year 1844 the design for the Half Anna were standardized throughout the EIC territories. The Bombay mint continued to issue coins with the date 1835. In January 1845, the EIC guaranteed permission to the Calcutta mint to issue Half Anna with the fixed date 1845 and it was continued until 1860.

The obverse side of this Half Anna depicts Arms of the Company; Date 1845 is written between the scroll and the ribbon. In the year 1845 numerical ‘4’ is written in two types one in which ‘4’ is written with serif and other in which 4 is written without serif. The inscription ‘AUSP: REG: & SEN: AGN:

The reverse side of the coin is inscribed with the value ‘HALF ANNA’ in the center of the coin within a wreath of laurel. Between the tips of the wreath the value of the coin is written in Persian; around the wreath the legend ‘EAST INDIA COMPANY’ is written.

Image Courtesy: Todywalla Auction