½ Pice British India King George V Bronze Coin 1911 to 1936 AD

British India, Ruler: George V (1910–1936 CE), Minting Years: 1911–1936 CE, Denomination: ½ Pice, Composition: Bronze, Weight: 2.42 grams, Diameter: 21.4 mm, Reference: KM 510, About Very Fine.

Obverse: Crowned bust of George V left; legend: GEORGE V KING EMPEROR.

Reverse: Denomination and date within design; INDIA and value in multiple scripts.

Mint Information: This coin was struck primarily at the Calcutta Mint (no mint mark) and the Bombay Mint (identified by a small dot or diamond mint mark below the date). These two mints were the principal production centers of British Indian bronze coinage during this period.

Crown Type Varieties: The obverse portrait features variations in crown design, generally categorized into two main crown styles—a broader, more detailed crown and a slightly narrower, simplified crown. These minor die variations are of particular interest to advanced collectors studying portrait evolution and mint engraving differences.

The British India ½ Pice of 1911–1936 was introduced following the accession of George V and formed part of a standardized imperial coinage system across India. Issued in bronze for everyday transactions, this denomination played a crucial role in low-value commerce among the general population. The obverse portrait by MacKennal reinforced the monarch’s authority, while the reverse incorporated multilingual inscriptions to accommodate India’s linguistic diversity—an essential administrative feature of the British Raj. Produced mainly at Calcutta and Bombay mints, these coins exist in multiple die varieties and minor stylistic differences, particularly in crown design and lettering. Today, they are widely collected not only for their historical importance but also for the study of mint variations and colonial monetary policy during the early 20th century.