Summary

1/4 Anna, Issued by India, 1835 (frozen date)
East India Company Uniform Coinage
Minted by Madras Mint

Obverse Description

East India Company arms, a shield quartyered with eschutcheon of France and England in the first quarter; crest of a lion rampant guardant holding between his forepaws the imperial crown proper; with supporters two lions rampant guardant each supporting a banner charged with a cross; below on a ribbon the motto, 'AUSP: REG: & SEN: ANG:' (translation: under the auspices of the king and senate of England); above ribbon, '1835'.

Reverse Description

At centre within laurel wreath, 'ONE / QUARTER / ANNA'; Persian legend between ends of wreath (yek pai; translation: one pice); around above, 'EAST INDIA COMPANY'.

Edge Description

Plain.

Significance

A.D. 1835. Act XXI
PASSED by the Honourable the Governor-General of India in Council, on the 7th December, 1835.
I. Be it enacted, that from the 20th day of December, 1835 the following copper coins only shall be issued from any mint within the presidency of Bengal:-

1. A pice weighing _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 100 grains troy
2. A double pice _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 200 grains troy
3. A pie, or one-twelfth of an anna piece - 33 1/3 grains troy

with such devices as shall be fixed for the same by the Governor-General in Council, acccording to tthe provisions of Section X. of the Act XVII. of 1835.

II. And be it enacted, that from the said 20th day of December, 1835 the said pice shall be legal tender for 1/64 of the Company's rupee, and the said double pice for 1/32 of the Company's rupee, and the said pie fo0r 1/192 of the Company's rupee.

III. Provided always, that after the said 20th day of December, 1835 no copper coin shall in any way part of the territories of the East-India Company be legal tender, except for fractions of a rupee

Reference: Clarke, Richard, The Regulations of the Government of Bombay in Force at the end of 1850, London, 1851, p.415

NOTE: This Act was extended to include the issues from all Presidencies of the East-India Company by ACT XXII of 1844 where paragraph I ends: "the following copper coins only shall be issued from any mint within the territories of the East-India Company" instead of "within the Presidency of Bengal"

A.D. 1837. Act XXXI
PASSED by the Honourable President of the Council of India in Council on 20th November 1837.

I. It is hereby emacted, that so much of Act. No. XVII. of 1835, as directs that certain coins issued from mints within the territories of the East-India Company, shall bear on the obverse the head of the reigning sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britiain and Ireland, shall be suspended, till the Governor-General of India in Council shall, byan Order of Council, declare those parts of the said Act to be again in force.

II. And it is hereby emnacted, that till the said Governor-General in Council shall make such an Order in Council as in aforesaid, the said coins shall bear on their obverses the head of his late Majesty, William the Fourth.

Reference: Clarke, Richard, The Regulations of the Government of Bombay in Force at the End of 1850, London, 1851, p.445

More Information