27- NUMISMATIC SUPPLEMENT No. XXIII. 



Note. — The numeration of the article below is continued 



for 



from p. 200 of the " Journal and Proceedings ff 

 1914* 



132. An Unissued Rupee of Edward -VII. 



It gives me pleasure to submit the following description 

 of a noteworthy rupee which I have had an opportunity of 

 seeing. It is of standard weight and diameter, and with 

 straight milling. 



Obverse : Broad rim with inner fringe of small semicircles. 



Crowned bust of King to right ; the crown 

 surmounted by an orb and cross : embroidered 

 collar and tippet : star at throat : sash-bow on 

 right shoulder : two chains pendent on breast. 



^J . 4.* l^Ci- ~£ L.,~4. (( T^J 3 TTTT J 5 a 



Le 



to left of bust, " Edward VII 



to 



right of bust, €t King and Emperor. 



? 5 



Reverse : 



as 



Interior to fringe of rim two linear circles. 



Area : Circle 



One 



Rupee 



India 



1910 



*8to 



lJj 



Margin containing wavy line, and enclosing 

 at top : side view of lotus ; 

 at bottom : lotus viewed from above ; 

 to right: rose and shamrock and thistle, each 



with leafy stalk ; 

 to left : same as to right- 



It is matter of common knowledge that the design adopted 

 for the rupees that were struck as currency during the reign of 

 Edward VII did not in this country meet with popular appro- 

 val. The bust on the obverse was not merely uncrowned, it 

 was emphatically bald-headed, and to the Indian mind bald- 

 ness does not comport with the majesty that should attach to 

 a personage so exalted as a "King and Emperor." The 



arked 



suggest a certain innate strength, was lacking in those ele- 

 ments of richness and luxuriance which the Oriental deems 

 of the essence of royalty. It is thus not surprising that the 

 mint authorities at Calcutta decided to impress a new design. 



