ObverseImage: Wikimedia Commons · Biswarup Ganguly · CC BY 3.0
Victoria Empress Rupee
India
1876–1901
Reference data compiled from public catalogs
Estimated Melt Value
$27.21
Based on Silver spot price ($79.15/oz) · 91.7% purity · 11.66g
Updated 10:13 PM
Collector premium not included
Specifications
| Country | India |
| Years Minted | 1876–1901 |
| Composition | 91.7% silver |
| Weight | 11.66 g |
| Diameter | 28.5 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Reeded |
Design
Obverse
Features a portrait of Queen Victoria facing left, with the inscription 'VICTORIA EMPRESS'.
Reverse
Depicts the denomination 'ONE RUPEE' in English and Persian, surrounded by a wreath and a crown.
History & Notable Facts
The Victoria Empress Rupee first bore the Latin inscription "VICTORIA EMPRESS" on its obverse, a direct nod to Queen Victoria's 1877 proclamation as Empress of India.
That change came after years of colonial tinkering with Indian coinage. The coin, struck in sterling silver, featured a bust of the queen on one side and a simple design of crossed scepters on the reverse. Minted at facilities in Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras, it standardized weights at about 11.66 grams to ease trade across the subcontinent. We don't know exact mintage figures for many years, as records from that era are spotty.
Some variants show die variations that numismatists debate endlessly. It's no wonder, given how these coins circulated through markets from Peshawar to Madras. As for myths, let's just say I've heard enough tall tales about hidden treasures to fill a curry pot.
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