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1 anna 1942

Asia › India, Indergadh
P-S2821942Anna SystemAU
1 anna 1942 from India, Indergadh, P-S282 (1942) — image 1
1 anna 1942 from India, Indergadh, P-S282 (1942) — image 2

About This Note

A delicate pink/mauve 1 anna note from Indergadh dated 1942, featuring a striking decorative scalloped circular seal at its center bearing the numeral '1' and bilingual English/Devanagari inscriptions. In AU condition with visible but light foxing and age-appropriate patina, this example displays the characteristic design simplicity of early Indian princely state currency, with the reverse left blank in typical fashion for this series.

Rarity

Common. Indergadh currency notes from the Anna System period represent relatively straightforward administrative currency issues from a princely state with documented printing runs adequate to meet local circulation demands. The 1 anna denomination, being a lower face value, would typically have been produced in larger quantities than higher denominations. The AU condition grade noted indicates a well-preserved example but does not substantially alter the common classification, as these notes were produced without the scarcity constraints that characterize truly rare issues.

Historical Context

This note was issued during 1942 by Indergadh's Anna System currency regime, representing the monetary infrastructure of this Indian princely state during the final years of British colonial rule and the independence movement. The bilingual inscriptions in English and Devanagari script reflect the administrative conventions of princely state governance during this transitional period, while the Anna denomination itself demonstrates the continuation of pre-decimal Indian currency systems in regional administration.

Design

The obverse features a distinctive decorative scalloped circular seal or rosette motif serving as the primary design element, centered on the note and containing the denomination numeral '1' with surrounding bilingual text identifying the currency unit. A simple rectangular border frames the design. The note employs pink/mauve as its primary color with black ink for inscriptions. The design represents the minimalist aesthetic typical of early 20th-century princely state currency, prioritizing clear denomination identification and administrative authority marking over elaborate portraiture or complex symbolism. The reverse is left blank, consistent with contemporary printing practices for notes of this class.

Inscriptions

Front side: 'तनबवंच ईन्द्रगढ़' (Tanbarwanch/administrative designation of Indergadh); 'ANNA' (denomination in English); '1' (numeral value); '1933' (date inscribed within seal); 'एक आना' (One Anna in Devanagari script). Back side: No inscriptions present; blank verso.

Printing Technique

Letterpress or typography printing method, evidenced by the crisp registration of the scalloped seal motif and the clean impression of bilingual text. The uniform color field and simple design suggest single-pass printing on colored paper stock. No security printing features are apparent, reflecting the technology and security standards available to princely state authorities in the 1940s.

Varieties

The visual analysis identifies the date '1933' inscribed within the seal while the catalog lists the issue year as 1942; this discrepancy may indicate either a repeated die design from an earlier printing series or an archival date versus issue date distinction. No serial numbers, signatures, or printer marks are clearly visible in the provided imagery. This date variance should be verified against Pick catalog specifications and institutional holdings to determine if it represents a distinct variety within the P-S282 classification.