India - Colonial. BRITISH INDIA: AE ½ rupee proving piece, ND (1905), Forc-D226, 24mm, Duncan, Stratton & Co, Bombay, copper proving piece, DUNCAN STRATTON & CO BOMBAY in outer circle, tiger at center // monogram and ALBION WORKS LEEDS at center, surrounded by GREENWOOD & BATLEY LIMITED, a lovely example with much original red mint luster! PCGS graded MS64 RB. The Leeds firm of Greenwood & Batley, founded in 1856, supplied coining presses and associated machinery to a number of foreign mints. In February 1905 their agents in India, Duncan, Stratton & Co. of Bombay, ordered six coining presses at £275 each on behalf of H.H. The Nizam of Hyderabads Mint. These were delivered in February 1906. The proving pieces struck from the new machinery were ostensibly to the size and weight of the rupee, half, quarter and eighth-rupee denominations.
