This piece dates to the final months of Queen Victoria's reign — she died in January 1901 — yet bears Edward VII's effigy, making it a transitional pattern produced in anticipation of the new coinage rather than in response to it. The "lion surrounded" reverse was a proposed design that never reached circulation; British Indian currency authorities ultimately retained a more conservative approach for the circulating rupee series.
Pattern rupees of this type were struck in extremely limited numbers at the Calcutta or Bombay mint for official review and rejection. Prid#1046 confirms its pattern status.
This piece dates to the final months of Queen Victoria's reign — she died in January 1901 — yet bears Edward VII's effigy, making it a transitional pattern produced in anticipation of the new coinage rather than in response to it. The "lion surrounded" reverse was a proposed design that never reached circulation; British Indian currency authorities ultimately retained a more conservative approach for the circulating rupee series.
Pattern rupees of this type were struck in extremely limited numbers at the Calcutta or Bombay mint for official review and rejection. Prid#1046 confirms its pattern status.