Digital museum showcasing the collection of worldwide legends over the years! 千古不朽博物館展示多年來收藏的世界傳奇故事!
British Raj
Victoria
1 Rupee
英屬印度
維多利亞
1盧比
Item number: A1213
Year: AD 1882
Material: Silver
Size: 30.6 x 30.6 x 1.5 mm
Weight: 11.4 g
Manufactured by: Mumbai Mint
Provenance: Fuchin Coin 2024
This is a 1-rupee coin issued by British India, which circulated throughout British India, encompassing present-day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. On the obverse, the upper inscription indicates the denomination of 1 rupee, while the lower part shows the issuing authority, “India,” along with the year of minting. The outer ring is adorned with botanical motifs, and a dot on the lotus base below serves as the mint mark of the Bombay Mint. The reverse features a portrait of Queen Victoria, with the outer inscription reading “Victoria Empress.”
The British colonisation of the Indian subcontinent dates back to the establishment of the British East India Company in AD 1600, which was granted a royal charter, giving it a monopoly over trade with India. Over time, the company expanded its control across the subcontinent through the annexation of various princely states. The Indian Rebellion of AD 1857-1858 prompted the British government to intervene in quelling the uprising, which ultimately led to the dissolution of the company. Its territories were transferred to the British Crown and placed under the administration of the Secretary of State for India, becoming part of the British Empire.
The establishment of British India and the decline of the Mughal Empire allowed Britain to claim imperial authority over India. In AD 1876, Queen Victoria assumed the title of “Empress of India,” leading to changes in the inscriptions on coinage to reflect this new status. Under British rule, the Indian subcontinent was characterized by its complex mix of ethnicities and religions. This diversity was a key factor in the “Partition of India” plan following independence, which divided the region into India and Pakistan based on religious demographics.