Indian Rupee counterstamped William IV

Features

Issuer DjiboutiObock Territory (1862-1896)
Period French Protectorates (1884-1896)
Second French Colonial Empire (1896-1946)
Type Standard circulation coin
Years 1892-1914
Value 1 Rupee
Currency Indian Rupee (1885-1943)
Composition Silver (.917)
Weight 11.66 g
Diameter 30.5 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled, countermarked
Orientation Medal alignment ↑↑
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
143501
References KM# 2.1
Tracy L. Schmidt (editor); 2019. Standard Catalog of World Coins / 2001-Date (14th edition). Krause Publications, Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States.
And 5 more volumes.

Obverse

William IV head facing right.
Counterstamped with "Abd Latif Sane'a al Fiddah : bi Jibuti" in arabic letters.

Scripts: Arabic, Latin

Lettering:
WILLIAM IIII, KING.

عبد لطيف
صانع الفضَّة
بجيبوتي

Translation:
Abd (al) Latif
Silver Maker
in Djibouti

Reverse

Value in English and Urdu (Yek Rupiya) within a wreath made of 2 branches tied at their base by a ribbon. English legend outside the wreath and date below.

Scripts: Latin, Urdu

Lettering:
EAST INDIA COMPANY
ONE RUPEE
یک روپیہ
1835.

Edge

Milled

Comments

In 1862 French merchants bought Obock, a little harbour on the Red Sea. In 1868, shipowners from Marseille settled in Tadjoura gulf. These territories were then sold to the French government in 1884 and this latter extended its protectorate over all this desertic region which sole advantage of was its strategic position after the Suez Canal being bored. In 1896, Obock, Tadjoura, Damakil and Somali territories became the French Somaliland which capital of is Djibouti. Before WW1, foreign coins were mostly circulating in this territory. Indeed, metropolitan coins were legal tender, but they were too scarce. On November 21st 1885, this obliged Commandant Lagarde to enact an order giving legal tender to Austrian Maria-Theresia Thalers and to British India Rupees and Half Rupees (in the reign of Victoria).

Here, the counterstamp is engraved over a William IV Rupee.

See also

Manage my collection

Please sign in or create an account to manage your collection.

Date VG F VF XF AU UNC
ND (1892-1914) 

Get this coin

No member from this site currently wants to exchange it.

Numista Rarity index: 93 Search tips
This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

Bullion value: USD 8.54 Search tips
This value is given for information purpose only. It is based on a price of silver at 799 USD/kg. Numista does not buy or sell coins or metal.

Contribute to the catalogue

Modify or add data on this page
Register a past auction sale
Register an example of this type
Duplicate this page
Share: Facebook X (Twitter)