IOR/R/15/2/1470

The file contains several Government of India circular letters, memoranda and notices issued mainly by the Finance Department, containing instructions and information about the following:

• Persons authorized to cut or break worn or defaced silver rupee coins, 1907;
• Withdrawal from circulation of worn rupee coins, according to their diminished weight, 1910;
• Withdrawal from circulation of Queen Victoria silver rupee coins in 1941 and King Edward VII silver rupee coins in 1942;
• Government of India policy on the gradual replacement of King Edward VII standard silver rupee coins by new King George VI rupee coins with security edge, to minimise the use of silver and to discourage counterfeiting, 1941;
• Withdrawal from circulation of King George V and King George VI standard silver rupee coins in 1943;
• Press notice describing the silver rupee policy of the Government of India and its effect on hoarders of standard silver rupee coins, 1942;
• Circular letter from the Reserve Bank of India, Bombay about the decision by the Government of India to remove light weight restrictions on silver rupee coins, 1941;
• Circular letter from the Master of the Bombay Mint, providing guidance on the detection of counterfeit George VI coins with a security edge and in circulation since 1940.

The file also contains proclamations and other public notices in Arabic, together with an English translation, as follows:

• The ruler of Bahrain prohibits the manufacture and use of counterfeit notes and coins, 1932;
• The Bahrain Government informs the public that silver rupee coins of any quality should be accepted as legal tender, 1933;
• The Bahrain Government informs the public that Queen Victoria, King George V and VI silver rupees respectively would gradually be withdrawn, 1937 and 1943;
• The ruler of Dubai informs traders that they should not refuse to accept worn rupee coins, 1937
• The rulers of Dubai and Sharjah inform their respective merchants and inhabitants that genuine Queen Victoria silver rupee coins should continue to be accepted as legal tender and counterfeit coins should be reported to the appointed examiners, 1940.

The file also contains petitions in Arabic and English, submitted to the Political Agent, Bahrain by merchants and others resident of Bahrain, protesting against having to accept silver rupee coins of any quality, under proclamations issued by the Bahrain Government and the Amir of Muharraq, 1933 and 1936.

The file also contains correspondence between the Political Agent, Bahrain, Charles Dalrymple Belgrave (Adviser to the Government of Bahrain), the Secretary to the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, Bushire and the Manager, Eastern Bank Ltd, Bahrain. They discuss the measures to be taken against the circulation of counterfeit Indian coinage in Bahrain, including the extension of the Indian Coinage Act to Bahrain and the respective roles of Bahrain Customs and the Eastern Bank in the seizure, detection and withdrawal of counterfeit coins, 1931-1933.

The file also contains four Government of India one rupee coins, minted in 1878, 1918 and 1919 (folio 1B). The 1878 coin depicts the head of Queen Victoria, Empress of India and the 1918-1919 coins depict the head of King George V, Emperor of India.