India (British) Pice 1943 to 1947

It's hard to miss this coin. The giant hole in the middle makes it very unusual. These were minted by the British about the time they were leaving India in 1947. The Portuguese were there until 1961. The coins were minted in 2 grams of bronze and have a diameter of 21.32mm.

These coins are worth very little. There were hundreds of millions made and many are still around due to their unique characteristics. But, as is often the case in coin collecting, there is a twist.

Here are the normal catalog values, which apply to all dates:

worn: less than $1 US dollar approximate catalog value
average circulated: $1
well preserved: $2
fully uncirculated: $4

Here is the twist. The coin in our primary picture, which has a yellowish appearance and lines up straight across the page, is a standard coin minted for circulation. The coin in our secondary picture, which is darker and has faint shadows is a proof-like restrike. The proof-like restrikes are valuable, up to $200 catalog value when in perfect condition.

Proof-like restrikes were minted in 1944, 1945, and 1947. If your coin carries one of those dates, has a mirrored appearance under frosty lettering and wreath, it is probably a proof-like restrike. To be sure, consult a knowledgeable collector or coin dealer. You can also send your coin to one of these services: PCGS, NGC, ANACS, ICG, for authentication, attribution (restrike or not), grading, and encapsulation. Look up the services on the Internet. Do not use other services.
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