British India 1945 1 Pice

The 1 Pice coin of 1945 was issued during the British India era under King George VI. It is a bronze coin featuring a distinctive round hole at the center, a design choice intended to reduce metal usage during wartime and also help people easily identify the denomination by touch. The coin weighs approximately 2 grams and has a diameter of about 21–22 mm, making it light and compact for daily circulation. One side bears the crowned bust of King George VI with the legend “GEORGE VI KING EMPEROR,” while the reverse displays the denomination “ONE PICE,” the year 1945, and decorative floral elements. An interesting and lesser,known fact is that these coins were produced at multiple mints such as Bombay, Calcutta, and Lahore, and subtle differences in mint marks and strike quality can be observed among them. The central hole also helped string coins together for storage and counting, a practical feature for traders at the time. The 1945 issue reflects the final phase of British coinage in India, minted just two years before independence, making it historically significant as one of the last everyday coins used under colonial rule.