friends, please let me know what does 'incuse' mean. I have seen many coins described as "C" incuse or "B" incuse etc... I am yet to understand its real meaning. Can anyone help me. If you feel this is a silly question, please forgive me.
This might give you an idea of what it looks like - Click Here Normally with coins the design is in relief, or raised above the fields. While an incuse design is lower than the fields - pressed down into the coin. It's the $2.50 & $5.00 Bone - not the $10.
But there is something more I'd like to know. I found this coin on ebay with descriptions "India 1899B 1/2 Rupee BU Backward incused B. I cannot find any incused 'B' on this coin. So what else can it be?
It's been a while since I looked at my Indian coins, but I used to be really into the regal coinage of India and still have a quite extensive collection. On these half rupees the mint mark is usually found on the stem of the upper flowr (reverse). You will either need very good eyesight or a strong magnifier in order to see it though. I couldn't tell from the scan whether or not there was a mint mark present, but that's because the scan wasn't clear enough for that purpose. I've seen some Bombay mint marks not only being a reversed `B', but also upside down at the same time....and before you ask, yes, in proper circumstances the top half of the B is smaller than the bottom half, and you can tell the difference! I've circled in red the area you should be looking at with your magnifier to find the incused reversed `B' . cheers, Ian
Biju,you can also find an incuse 'B' mintmark on the middle prong of Britannia's trident on the reverse of the British Trade Dollars.It is near the top of the coin.These were also struck at Bombay. Aidan.
Aidan, can you let me know where in the East India Company 1 Rupee coin (1835 or 1840) the mint mark appears. I've tried a lot... but in vain. Also, the catalogue says the initial of the designer will appear at the end of 'truncation'. 'Truncation' means where? at the base of the neck?
Biju,I think the mintmark appears in the area near the date.I know that is the case on the later 1 Rupee coins of the Empire of India. In the 1840 dated silver coins from the 2 Annas upwards,there are 2 obverse types - Continuous,which has 'VICTORIA QUEEN' above the Queen's portrait,& divided,which as 'VICTORIA' in front of the Queen's portrait & 'QUEEN' located behind. There are also a couple of sub-types that do not have the designer's initials - W.W. (for William Wyon) located on the truncation.These are actually quite scarce pieces,just like the 1911 coins with the 'Pig' obverse. Aidan.
