2016-12-31 Sat

This Copper-nickel pattern Anna was issued in India in 1908.

King Edward VII was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and her prince consort, Albert. Edward VII was heir to Queen Victoria for nearly sixty years and was crowned in 1902 after her death. He was also referred as the ‘Uncle of Europe’ because he was related to most of the European royalty.

This half Anna was issued when India was under British rule and King Edward VII was the Emperor of India. The obverse of this coin depicts the robe and crowned bust of Edward VII and a non-continuous legend ‘Edward VII King and Emperor’.

The reverse of the coin depicts the denomination half Anna with India above and date below it. A floral pattern is around this with denomination inscribed in four different languages in four different corners.

Edward VII was the first English Monarch to visit Russia. His administration glorified the monarchy which was deemed after his father’s death. Edward VII established a good foreign policy and he paved the way to Anglo-French Entente cordiale in 1904.

His period was named as Edwardian era which was the golden age for the upper classes in Europe and America as the concept of socialism was changing and labour party and trade union were becoming powerful.

He died in 1910 in Buckingham palace and was succeeded by King George V his second son.