Coin guide › Victoria (as Empress)
Victoria Empress Half Rupee (1877–1901): value and silver content
Half the weight of a rupee in the same 11/12 silver. Smaller coins wore down faster in everyday use, so well-preserved examples are harder to find than worn ones.
Illustration, not the actual coin design · drag to spin
| Ruler | Victoria (as Empress) |
|---|---|
| Years | 1877–1901 |
| Denomination | ½ Rupee |
| Metal | Silver (11/12 fine) |
| Standard weight | 5.83 g |
| Pure silver | 5.34 g |
Silver melt value
Default rate ₹250/g (August 2026). Enter today's rate for an accurate figure. Dealers usually pay below melt value, to cover their margin and refining costs.
What to check
A badly worn half rupee may weigh well under 5.83 g. Weigh it and enter the real weight in the calculator.
Questions
How much silver is in a Victoria Empress Half Rupee?
A full-weight coin has about 5.34 g of pure silver.
Is my Victoria Empress Half Rupee worth more than its silver?
It can be. Sharp, unworn coins, scarcer dates and mint variants attract collectors. Heavily worn common dates usually sell close to melt value.
Should I clean the coin before selling?
No. Cleaning or polishing leaves fine scratches and removes original toning, and collectors pay noticeably less for cleaned coins.
Related coins
Victoria Empress One Rupee
1877–1901
Silver (11/12 fine)Edward VII Half Rupee
1905–1910
Silver (11/12 fine)George V Half Rupee
1911–1936
50% silver (quaternary)George VI Half Rupee (Quaternary)
1942–1945
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