BRITISH INDIA: Victoria, Queen, 1837-1876, AR ½ rupee, 1849, KM-456.4, S& W-3.43, silver pattern restrike, reeded edge, with lovely deep original toning, PCGS graded Proof 65.

This is the finest and only graded example at PCGS.

The dies dated 1849 for this type and the full rupee (next lot), together with their matrices, were produced at the Royal Mint in London and sent to India, but were not used for a circulating coinage. Instead, dies were prepared in India for all three mint in 1850, derived from these London dies (with the divided legend VICTORIA QUEEN), but continued to be dated 1840 as the previous series. No silver coins dated 1849 were even placed into circulation.

Estimate: 2,500-3,000 USD