Victoria Empress, Copper, Quarter Anna, 1889, Calcutta Mint, B/II, No mint mark. GK 848. NGC Slabbed MS 64 RB. Rare.

Queen Victoria Copper Quarter Anna 1889, Calcutta Mint (B/II variety, no mint mark) (GK 848) is a British India circulation coin struck in copper during the late Victorian period, when standardized imperial coinage was widely used across the Indian subcontinent. The obverse features the crowned and veiled bust of Queen Victoria with the legend “Victoria Empress,” while the reverse displays the denomination “Quarter Anna” along with the date, struck in the Calcutta Mint style without a distinct mint mark for this issue.

This coin belongs to the B/II portrait classification within the Victorian copper series, representing the later refined imperial portrait type used in the 1880s as part of the mature British India coinage system. The 1889 issue reflects the high-volume production of small-denomination currency required for daily commerce across colonial India.

The example graded NGC MS64 RB (Red Brown) is an uncirculated specimen with strong remaining original red and brown mint color, sharp strike details, and only minimal contact marks, placing it in the higher Mint State range with strong eye appeal. Its “Rare” designation reflects its relative scarcity in certified high-grade RB condition, particularly among Calcutta Mint late 19th-century copper fractional issues.