The Puddester Collection

The Uniform Coinage of India, British Imperial Period: Patterns, George VI, original bronze Pattern Pie, 1945, unsigned, crown above india, rev. lotus flower and rose flanking 1 pie, date above, edge plain, 11mm, 0.68g/12h (Prid. 1092 [not in Sale]; SW 9.264; KM. Pn122; cf. Fore II, 746; cf. CNG 115, 871). Extremely fine with a hint of original colour, exceptionally rare, very few specimens known [previpusly certified and graded PCGS PR 62 BN]
£2,000-£2,600

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

View
Collection

‘Diana’ Collection, Baldwin Auction 54 (London), 6 May 2008, lot 248, label.

Owner’s ticket and PCGS label (392356.62).

In 1945 the Indian government came under pressure to introduce a new coin for use by the poor which was lower in value than the current half-pice. The result, produced in less than a week, involved making a bronze coin from the redundant metallic centre of the then-current pice, but it was deemed impractical and very few were ever struck. The coin was conceived by a Bombay mint official, Major Money, who donated a specimen to the Royal Mint Museum in the early 1990s. Sold with further background detail