The first modern scalloped coin

One of the first 1 Anna coins was this piece. This particular example, minted under King Edward VII, was issued from 1906 – 1910. The overall design, continued to be used up until 1947. This coin has quite a beautiful design, from the striped numeral 1 in the center, to the writing around the edge and the almost floral pattern. The value, 1 Anna, is actually written in five different languages on the coin: English in the center, then Urdu, Telugu, Bengali and Devanagari outside.

Another aspect of this coin which took my attention, is the shape of it. The wavy edge, called “Scalloped”, is not commonly used. This 1 Anna coin was the very first milled (machine struck) coin was the first one to use this shape. Since it was issued, only 210 circulating scalloped-edge coins have been issued. That seems a lot, but in the same period (1906-2023), Numista lists 16,930 round circulating coins. Since the year 2000, only 14 countries have issued circulating coins with a scalloped edge.

The obverse of the coin features King Edward VII, with the inscription “Edward VII” and “King & Emperor”. At the time this coin was issued, the monarch of the United Kingdom, also ruled over India, with the title there of Emperor.

The word “Emperor”, or the feminine form “Empress” from the Latin Imperator, is an absolute ruler of an empire. The first to style himself as Emperor, was Caesar ‘Augustus’. The Emperor of Japan is the only currently reigning monarch whose title is translated into English as “Emperor”.

India had a number of beautifully designed and shaped coins, so I am sure we will revisit the country in future posts.