Rare and Highly Desirable World War II issue Rupee

​One
important highlight offered in the upcoming May Collectors Choice Online (CCO)
auction hails from the South Asian — specifically the country of India.  Due to the threat of war against the Axis
powers (which was officially declared in September 1939), hoarding of coinage
was a real problem.  Though dated 1939,
these Rupee coins were actually struck and issued for a brief period in 1940,
as the dies were not ready for use until then. 
The obverse features the crowned bust of George VI left with legend
around “George VI King Emperor.” The reverse displays the denomination and date
within a conventional single line circle surrounded by stylized representations
of a rose, thistle and shamrock. A bead near the rim at 6 o’clock indicates it
was made at the Bombay mint. The coin is struck in .917 fine silver with a
reeded edge.  Some experts speculate that
these pieces were manufactured only for a few days and that the listed mintage
figure, roughly 2.5 million, also includes the 1 Rupee banknotes.  This interesting, historically significant
and always in demand issue of the British Indian and Colonial British series
will be a prize for even the most advanced collector.

Be
sure to look for this and other rare and interesting items in our upcoming May
CCO auction. We are always accepting consignments for future auctions, with our
current focus on Chinese and other Asian coins and currency for our August 2017
Hong Kong Showcase Auction and world and ancient coins and world paper money
for our August 2017 ANA Auction. Time is running short, so if you are
interested in consigning your coins and paper currency (whether a whole
collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one of our consignment
directors.