Description: Scarce coin, the infamous 'pig rupee' - a great example of British Imperial imperviousness - His Majesty’s mints struck the new coins of George V at Bombay and Calcutta, and promptly supplied them to the treasuries for subsequent issuance to the public on “Durbar Day,” Tuesday, December 12, 1911. What was completely unknown was that this coin would cause an uproar. A bizarre rumor said to be started by political agitators claimed that a “pig” was depicted on the new rupee obverse upon the collar of the most eminent order of the Indian Empire worn on the robe of the king. While a similar obverse design was also implemented on the other smaller fractions, it was the size of the rupee coin that brought the most criticism. Authorities explained but failed to convince the masses and the public aversion to the coin was so persistent and hostile that the government, on January 23, 1912, issued orders to the banks and local treasuries for its withdrawal after some 700,000 of the total 9.4 million minted by the mints of Bombay and Calcutta had been issued, the remainder and those withdrawn from circulation were melted down. The dies were slightly altered, and on the coins issued in 1912 and after that, the figure of the elephant had more prominent features. This new form appears on all rupee coins struck from 1912 through 1922, and fractional coinage between 1912 and 1936.
Price: 170 AUD
Location: Oak Flats, NSW
End Time: 2024-12-17T03:34:18.000Z
Shipping Cost: 17.82 AUD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Returns Accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Composition: Silver
Ref: KM 523
Year: 1911
Era: 1900s
Fineness: 0.917
Country: India
Region of Origin: Asia
Variety: 1911 Bombay
