The Puddester Collection (Part II)

The Uniform Coinage of India, British Imperial Period: Patterns, Edward VII, original cupro-nickel Pattern Half-Anna, 1908, Calcutta, on a scalloped blank, unsigned, crowned bust right, no initials below truncation, edward vii king & emperor, rev. india above large 1/2 dividing anna, date below, all within decorative quatrefoil, nim ana and adha ana in lower angles, edge plain, 17.8mm, 2.20g/12h (Prid. 1073 [Sale, lot 217]; SW 7.154; KM. Pn96; cf. Fore II, 750; cf. Noonans 249, 501). Brilliant mint state, extremely rare £3,000-£4,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Puddester Collection.

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Bt R. Weir (Unionville, ONT), envelope.

XRF analysis shows the metal content as 76% copper, 23% nickel. Encouraged by the favourable reception given to the new cupro-nickel annas in 1907, the government proceeded to plan for an issue of comparable half-annas, a denomination which had not been struck in any great quantities since the late 1870s. To this end, a few patterns were struck in 1908. Consultation with local authorities, however, led to a decision not to proceed until the population had become thoroughly familiar with the new annas, and the subsequent death of the monarch led to the initiative being quietly dropped