India: 1 rupee 1979B, km78.n / Is this a km78.3?

Hi,

to be quite honest with you all, I'm never sure how to identify the types of the 1 and 2 rupee coins from India, the documentation is very vague in the km, which is also what numista has copied!

Type 1: Side lions toothless with 2 to 3 fur rows, short squat D in INDIA. Easy to count 2-3! No teeth where?
Type 2: Asoka lion pedestal more imposing. Side lions with 3 or 4 fur rows, more elegant D in INDIA. The shape of the D in INDIA is the easiest way to distinguish this obverse. More imposing? More elegant? Easy to count 3-4, but if I count 4? What about the teeth?
TYPE 3: Similar to Type I but 2 teeth, 4 to 5 fur rows, smaller lion head. Smaller lion head? 4-5 easy to count, but if I count 4? 2 teeth, OK, but on which lion?

As you can see, nothing really objective to separate the 3 types!

Here is a coin, which I have estiguessed to be the type 3, might I be right in that?

Ole

There is an image of all 1 rupee lion types here...

https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces4855.html

Thanks,

and bravo for letting us know!

Ole

Hi again,

if the comments woud be shown in the first found window, I would have seen it, but because of I don't know what, you only get the comments, when you go one step "deeper".

First view:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/index.php?r=&c=&co=y&cno=y&cc=y&cn=y&cu=y&cat=y&mode=avance&p=1&e=inde&d=&ca=3&no=78&i=&v=&m=&a=&t=&dg=&w=&g=&f=

One step "deeper":
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces4855.html

I suppose there is a reason behind that?

Thanks anyway

Ole

Quote: "@josephjk"​There is an image of all 1 rupee lion types here...
​
​https://en.numista.com/catalogue/pieces4855.html

​By looking at these pictures it might be easier to identify each type by looking at the Pedestal. On the right side of the pedestal there is a buffalo, ox, or some kind of bovine, which is clearly different in all three types. The other differences they talk about are much more subtle, making it hard to differentiate from one another. Look at the oxen!

Cheers,

Carlos

Hi,

here is what I think is significant and "EASY" to detect on the different types. The "D" are easier to see, than the different heights of the Asoka statues. I used the images from @josephjk, thanks again.



As you can see, I also tried with the animals, but dear me, it's impossible to explain the differences, furthermore on worn coins it will completely impossible! So after having shown this, I'll discard the animals completely, do you agree?

I agree, the animals on the pedestal are difficult to use for the distinction between types, especially when the coins are a bit worn.
But all in all I think the distinction is easier than expected (open the picture in a new tab or window, then you can enlarge the picture much more than by only clicking on it):



Distinctions besides the ones already mentioned by Ole Sjoelund:

Type 3: no discussion, that's the only type with serifs on all the lettering.
Type 2: several specific distinctions (look at the red marks):
- The only type where the fur of the side lions forms bowed lines instead of straight ones.
- The only type with a higher/bigger/thicker lowest part of the pedestal.
- The only type were the upper line of the open space in the second character of the left legend is straight in stead of bowed.
Re-engraved type (look at the blue marks):
- The only type with no separation in the fur under the lion's head.
- Almost no relief on the lion's head.
Type 1: that's the type with no serifs on the lettering, with straight lines formed by the fur of the side lions and with a clear separation in the fur under the lion's head.