BRITISH INDIA GEORGE VI QUARTER ANNA VARIETIES

I had recently purchased a 1938 Calcutta Mint Quarter Anna Proof, which looked different to me. So, I compared it to my Proof Restrike example, and found a remarkable difference and that is what has triggered this research. After going through innumerous examples of Type I Quarter Annas (of 1938 and 1939) for the next 10-months or so, I have come to the conclusion that there is a noteworthy difference between Obverse A (Pridmore Type I) of 1938 Quarter Anna and that of 1939. After going through this article, collectors should be able to easily identify just by looking at the Type I Obverse of a Quarter Anna (of 1938 and 1939) if it is a 1938 or a 1939 as it will become easily distinguishable.

1938 Obverse - Long Trefoils in Crown

Trefoils are reaching outside/over the line below the pearls of the crown and almost touching the pearls above. Let's call this Obverse - Type I (a)

    
LEFT: 1938 Bombay Quarter Anna Obverse Type I (a) Business Strike
RIGHT: 1938 Calcutta Quarter Anna Obverse Type I (a) Original Proof

1939 Obverse - Long Trefoils in Crown

Trefoils are NOT reaching outside/over the line below the pearls of the crown and therefore not touching the pearls above. Let's call this Obverse - Type I (b)

    
LEFT: 1939 India Bombay Quarter Anna Obverse Type I (b) Business Strike
RIGHT: 1939 India Bombay Quarter Anna Obverse Type I (b) Original Proof

In my opinion, all 1938 Quarter Annas have Obverse - Type I (a) and 1939 (Type I) Quarter Annas have Obverse - Type I (b). However, business strike examples with intermixed Obverse(s), although not encountered by this author, is a definite possibility, but those should be considered mules and should deservedly attract collectors' attention.

Also to be noted is that there are further minor variances in trefoil thickness/size, tip shape, and font thickness. But these variances, from my standpoint, are rather insignificant and more specific to the individual years. Like for the year 1938 Obverse Type I (a), there are minute differences, and for the 1939 Obverse Type I (b) there are other minute differences, but those are not necessarily present in the 1938 Obverse and vice-versa. Regardless, once the understanding of trefoils "almost touching the pearls" vs "not touching the pearls" becomes clear, then 1938 and Type I 1939 Quarter Anna Obverse(s) can be easily differentiated.

Interestingly enough, all proof examples of 1938 Quarter Anna that have come at auctions since the year 2000 have the Obverse Type I (b) and are classified as later restrike proofs and that is quite logical. Also, another giveaway was that these restrike examples have all been lacquered as that was a general practice of the mint at the time restriking took place[1].

Furthermore, even the most comprehensive collections put together (like Diana, David Fore (took 50 years in assembling), Arielle, and examples offered by Heritage, Stacks, Goldberg, Steve Album) only had the later restrike examples of the 1938 Quarter Anna Proof. One can find this easily by searching the past auction archives. There is not a single 1938 Quarter Anna Proof with the Obverse Type I (a).

On the other hand, the Fore sale had the Original Proofs of 1939 Quarter Anna in both Type I and Type II Obverse. The Type I example had the Obverse Type I (b), which should be the case as all Type I business strikes of 1939 Quarter Anna have the Obverse Type I (b).

Consequently, it would be safe to assume that all 1938 Quarter Anna Original Proofs should have the Obverse Type I (a) - trefoils almost touching the pearls and that should be taken as a significant indicator of a true 1938 striking.

Acknowledgements:

1. The Uniform Coinage of India 1835 to 1947 A Catalogue and Pricelist - By Paul Stevens & Randy Weir

Image References:

1938 - Bombay Quarter Anna - Business Strike - Obverse Type I (a) (https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/w4YAAOSwhpZaOu-s/s-l1600.jpg)

1938 - Calcutta Quarter Anna - Original Proof - Obverse Type I (a) (https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/search#/5/collection/445054/india-george-vi-proof-14-anna-1938)

1939 - Bombay Quarter Anna - Business Strike - Obverse Type I (b) (https://en.numista.com/catalogue/photos/inde_britannique/g1857.jpg)

1939 - Bombay Quarter Anna - Original Proof - Obverse Type I (b) (https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=451&lot=251)

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