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1911-C Rupee (Obverse)


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King George V
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1918-B Rupee (Reverse)

Cupro-Nickel 1/12 Anna and 1/2 Pice

Darren Harris of International Numismatics in Australia provided two coins for me to examine, a 1926-C 1/12 Anna and a 1930-C 1/2 Pice. Normally these coins are in bronze, but these samples appear to be copper-nickel, like the 4 Annas and 8 Annas coins. I examined them carefully to see if they appear to be genuine. In my opinion, these coins are indeed genuine and demonstrate that coins of these types can be found struck in the wrong metal (copper-nickel). Following is my analysis:

 

1/12 Anna (1912-1936)
Y-35     KM-509

 

1926-B normal Bronze

1926-C Cupro-Nickel variant

Coin Weight (grams) Diameter (mm)
1920-C1.6717.31
1924-B1.6117.39
1926-B1.6517.36
1927-B1.6117.36
1928-B1.6217.36
1930-C1.5917.31
Copper-Nickel variant
1926-C1.6317.36

For comparison I measured six normal bronze coins and then the C-N variant. The C-N 1/12 Anna fit the standard measurements precisely. Given that the specific gravity of bronze and copper-nickel are very similar these measurements confirm that this coin is consistent with expected measurements for a genuine coin. Next there is a direct comparison between a 1920-C bronze coin and the 1926-C C-N variant.

1920-C normal Bronze (false color) / 1926-C Cupro-Nickel variant
Left half of coins (obverse)

1920-C normal Bronze (false color) / 1926-C Cupro-Nickel variant
Right half of coins (obverse)

1920-C normal Bronze (false color) / 1926-C Cupro-Nickel variant
Left half of coins (reverse)

1920-C normal Bronze (false color) / 1926-C Cupro-Nickel variant
Right half of coins (reverse)

Physical comparison of the two coins show the details are identical. Thus, I conclude that this Copper-Nickel variant is a legitimate coin on the wrong metal.

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1/2 Pice (1912-1936)
Y-36     KM-510

 

1917-C normal Bronze

1930-C Cupro-Nickel variant

Coin Weight (grams) Diameter (mm)
1914-C 2.38 21.07
1917-C 2.44 21.03
1921-C 2.43 21.00
1924-C 2.44 21.05
1925-C 2.40 21.04
1932-C 2.43 21.04
1934-C 2.46 21.03
1935-C 2.45 21.03
1936-C 2.39 21.04
1936-C 2.43 21.04
Copper-Nickel variant
1930-C 2.44 21.12

For comparison I measured ten normal bronze coins and then the C-N variant. I initially only measured five bronze coins, but since the C-N variant measured a slightly greater diameter I measured five additional bronze coins. The C-N 1/2 Pice fit the standard weight precisely. The diameter is slightly greater than any of the ten bronze coins, but the variance is small, less than 0.1mm greater than the bronze samples. I conclude that this coin is consistent with expected measurements for a genuine coin.

1932-C normal Bronze (false color) / 1930-C Cupro-Nickel variant
Left half of coins (obverse)

1932-C normal Bronze (false color) / 1930-C Cupro-Nickel variant
Right half of coins (obverse)

1932-C normal Bronze (false color) / 1930-C Cupro-Nickel variant
Left half of coins (reverse)

1932-C normal Bronze (false color) / 1932-C Cupro-Nickel variant
Right half of coins (reverse)

Physical comparison of the two coins show the details are identical. Thus, I conclude that this Copper-Nickel variant is a legitimate coin on the wrong metal.

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Last Update: 7-December-2006


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