As you can see, this is a 1904 1 rupee. The letters on both obverse and reverse look very odd to me. I am pretty sure this is from the Calcutta mint and I have found no info about any such mint errors from there. The guy I bought it from told me it might be a quite valuable coin.
It is definitely something, based on looking at other 1904 Rupees: https://www.ebay.ca/itm/BRITISH-IND...843956?hash=item3f8ac10034:g:V8sAAOSw0ehZ-fYb https://www.ebay.ca/itm/BRITISH-IND...459715?hash=item2391a67183:g:xLcAAOSwnTdZ-Hfj Very cool coin.
Comparing yours to other 1904 Rupees, I see a number of inconsistencies (ignoring the lettering), that makes me think it's a fake.
I know what the next question mill be in response to my reply, so see the attached. But, I've really been looking and thinking about this coin. I think there is also the possibility that this is a genuine coin that was used by someone (jeweler's apprentice? or the like?) to practice their skills, maybe working in melted metals (silver?), or metal modeling. It looks like some of it was retooled to look fancier, some of it looks like additional metal was applied, and some of it, well... just looks wrong. Maybe I have no idea....
I was feeling that way too. Look at Edward's hair. I have never seen him with that sort of bald top and hair on the sides...and the big mustache.
Fortunately, I got it fairly cheaply and from a guy I know pretty well. Even if it is fake it is an interesting one. Has a real nice ring sound when dropped on the table just right, so I am pretty sure it is silver. I just checked Numista and it should be 11.66 grams and 30.6mm diameter. Mine is 11.4 grams and 30.78mm/1.212" diameter. Looking more like fake all the time...
I also think it's a fake. There's a lot porosity on the obverse that could indicate casting. Check the edges for any seams or filing marks for confirmation
Heck, I no longer have any doubt about it being fake. I am not upset at all, just a bit amazed that I did not realize it from the get go. Good lesson for me. Think I will keep the rascal, it already has a tag saying "Fake" in the album.
In some areas of numismatics, such as Spanish colonial silver and 18th-early 19th century English copper, there are collectors who specialize in contemporary counterfeits, and some can be valuable. I don't know if your coin is a contemporary or modern forgery, but if it's contemporary, then it may be an interesting addition to your collection
11.4 gm and has a nice ring to it. I now think it is what they call a "contemporary fake", or a counterfeit made and circulated back in those days. I really appreciate all the good ideas and input this post has brought forward. All of us together are smarter than any one of us alone.
