A Collection of Indian Coins

India, BIKANIR, Ganga Singh (VS 1944-1999), Proof Restrike Quarter-Anna, 1895 (Pr.1009; KM Y. 1 7a). Virtually as struck, deeply and attractively toned, rare

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Indian Coins.

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The ""Treaty"" currency of Bikanir reflects an unusual attempt by the British Indian authorities to establish a more uniform currency throughout the sub-continent, without offending the sensibilities of their princely Indian vassals. One of the problems facing the Indian government was the existence of a diverse array of coins issued on the authority of the Princely States and the constantly fluctuating exchange rates between the British and native currencies that ensued. To promote monetary uniformity an Act was passed in 1876 which enabled coins of the Princely States to become legal tender throughout British India, the main provisions of which required the coins to conform to the fineness and weight of Government of India issues and be struck at imperial mints. Bikanir, in north west India (along the Alwar, Dewas, both senior and junior branches, Dhar, and Sailana) was one of the few states to take advantage of the Act. As a consequence of the experiment the dies for these short-lived issues were available for restriking (a practice which ceased around 1971), though restrikes of the Treaty coins appear to have been made in far smaller numbers thanthose of the imperial series