Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Rupee 1950-1951, KM# 29, Mauritius, George VI
  • 1 Rupee 1950-1951, KM# 29, Mauritius, George VI
Description

British Mauritius was a British crown colony. Formerly part of the French colonial empire, the crown colony of Mauritius was established after a British invasion in 1810 and the subsequent Treaty of Paris that followed. It later gained independence as a Commonwealth realm on 12 March 1968.

George VI (1895–1952) was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death. He was the last Emperor of India and the first Head of the Commonwealth.

As the second son of King George V, he was not expected to inherit the throne and spent his early life in the shadow of his elder brother, Edward. George's elder brother ascended the throne as Edward VIII upon the death of their father in 1936. However, later that year Edward revealed his desire to marry divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. British Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin advised Edward that for political and religious reasons he could not marry a divorced woman and remain king. Edward abdicated in order to marry, and George ascended the throne as the third monarch of the House of Windsor.

Obverse

Depicts a crowned bust of King George VI, left, wearing the Tudor Crown, English legend around.

The Tudor Crown, also referred to as the King's Crown or Imperial Crown, is a prominent symbol in the heraldry of the United Kingdom. Although different crown symbols had been used in heraldry for many years, the Tudor Crown design was standardized at the request of Edward VII. It was not meant to depict a real crown but closely resembles Queen Victoria's small diamond crown in shape.

Engraver: Percy Metcalfe

KING GEORGE THE SIXTH
PM

Reverse

Depicts a coat of arms of Mauritius dividing date, the country name above, and the value below.

The coat of arms of Mauritius was designed by the Mayor of Johannesburg in 1906, Johann Van Der Puf. In the lower left quarter is a key and on the right-hand side is a white star, which is referred to in the Latin motto “Stella Clavisque Maris Indici” meaning “Star and Key of the Indian Ocean". In the left upper quarter is lymphad. In the right upper quarter are 3 palm trees.

A lymphad or galley is a single-masted ship propelled by oars. In addition to the mast and oars, the lymphad has three flags and a basket. The word comes from the Scottish Gaelic long fhada, meaning a longship or birlinn.

Engraver: George Edward Kruger Gray

·⁕·MAURITIUS·⁕·
19 50
K G
·⁕·ONE·RUPEE·⁕·

Edge

1 Rupee

British colony
KM# 29 Schön# 30
Characteristics
Material Cupronickel
Weight 11.7 g
Diameter 29.6 mm
Thickness 2.35 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Mint

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