George VI British India Nickel Brass 2 Annas Historical Coin

British India, King George VI, (1936–1952), Denomination: 2 Annas, Composition: Nickel Brass, Bombay / Lahore mint, Years: 1942–1944 CE, Weight: 5.74 grams, Diameter: 25.3 mm, Reference: KM# 541a, About Very Fine, Collectable.

Obverse: Crowned bust of King George VI facing left with legend “GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR”.

Reverse: Denomination “2 ANNAS” with date within floral design, surrounded by the value written in multiple Indian scripts including Devanagari, Bengali, and Telugu.

King George VI ruled the British Indian Empire from 1936 to 1947, during the final phase of British colonial rule in India. His reign coincided with major global and regional changes, including World War II and the rapid growth of Indian nationalist movements that eventually led to the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947. The coinage issued during this period reflects the administrative and economic system of late colonial India, with denominations such as the anna widely used in daily commerce.

The 2 Annas coin represented one-eighth of a rupee and circulated extensively across the Indian subcontinent for everyday transactions. Its distinctive square shape with rounded corners made it easy to identify in circulation. Struck in nickel brass during the early 1940s wartime years, these coins were minted in large numbers at important mints such as Bombay and Lahore to meet the growing monetary demand of the period. Today, they represent the final phase of British India coinage before independence.