Indian Coinage

An Overview

India has been one of the earliest issuers of coins in the world (circa 6 ^th Century BC). Few countries rival India for the sheer diversity of its coinage be it minting techniques, motifs, sizes, shapes, the metals used or for that matter the monetary history arising from the Monetary Standards India has experienced (Tri-metallism, Bi-metallism, the Silver Standard, the Gold Exchange Standard as well as fiat money).

In history, Indian coins have played a crucial role in documenting political and economic changes over time. Foreign coin hoards found in India throw light on Indian trade patterns in ancient, medieval, and late pre-colonial times. The Motifs on coins have been impacted upon by the cultural ethos of different regions at different time periods.

By this site i attempt to give a sampler of Indian Coins/currencies down the ages and are by no means exhaustive. I am pleased to share with you some of the background history, information and images from my collection. i propose to supplement the more infomatives in the days to come, i always welcome contributions/view of the public/viewers.

To identify various indian coins/currencies we invite you to browse this site.

Republic India Coinage

India won its independence on 15^th August, 1947. During the period of transition India retained the monetary system and the currency and coinage of the earlier period. While Pakistan introduced a new series of coins in 1948 and notes in 1949, India brought out its distinctive coins on 15^th August, 1950.

Chronologically, the main considerations influencing the coinage policy of Republic India over time have been:

• The incorporation of symbols of sovereignty and indigenous motifs on independence;
• Coinage Reforms with the introduction of the metric system;
• The need felt from time to time to obviate the possibility of the metallic value of coins rising beyond the face value;
• The cost-benefit of coinisation of currency notes

Independent India Issues could broadly be categorised as The Rupees from 1947-1950. This represented the currency arrangements during the transition period upto the establishment of the Indian Republic. The Monetary System remained unchanged at One Rupee consisting of 192 pies.

1 Rupee = 16 Annas

1 Anna = 4 Pice

1 Pice = 3 Pies

The Anna Series

This series was introduced on 15^th August, 1950 and represented the first coinage of Republic India. The King's Portrait was replaced by the Lion Capital of the Ashoka Pillar. A corn sheaf replaced the Tiger on the one Rupee coin. In some ways this symbolised a shift in focus to progress and prosperity. Indian motifs were incorporated on other coins. The monetary system was largely retained unchanged with one Rupee consisting of 16 Annas.

Denomination	Metal	Obverse	Reverse
Rupee One	Nickel	Other Distributions	Other Distributions
Half Rupee	Nickel	Other Distributions	Other Distributions
Quarter Rupee	Nickel	Other Distributions	Other Distributions
Two Anna	Cupro-Nickel	See Other Distributions	See Other Distributions
One Anna	Cupro-Nickel	See Other Distributions	See Other Distributions
Half Anna	Cupro-Nickel	See Other Distributions	See Other Distributions
One Pice	Bronze	See Other Distributions	See Other Distributions

The Decimal Series

The move towards decimalisation was afoot for over a century. However, it was in September, 1955 that the Indian Coinage Act was amended for the country to adopt a metric system for coinage. The Act came into force with effect from 1^st April, 1957. The rupee remained unchanged in value and nomenclature. It, however, was now divided into 100 'Paisa' instead of 16 Annas or 64 Pice. For public recognition, the new decimal Paisa was termed 'Naya Paisa' till 1^st June, 1964 when the term 'Naya' was dropped.

Naya Paisa Series 1957-1964

Denomination	Metal / Weight / Shape / Size	Coin
Rupee One	Nickel 10 gms Circular 28 mm	Other Distributions
Fifty Naye Paise	Nickel 5 gms Circular 24 mm	Other Distributions
Twenty Five Naye Paise	Nickel 2.5 gms Circular 19 mm	Other Distributions
Ten Naye Paise	Cupro-Nickel 5 gms Eight Scalloped 23 mm (across scallops)	Other Distributions
Five Naye Paise	Cupro-Nickel 4 gms Square 22 mm (across corners)	See Other Distributions
Two Naye Paise	Cupro-Nickel 3 gms Eight Scalloped 18 mm (across scallops)	See Other Distributions
One Naya Paisa	Bronze 1.5 gms Circular 16 mm	See Other Distributions

With commodity prices rising in the sixties, small denomination coins which were made of bronze, nickel- brass, cupro-nickel, and Aluminium-Bronze were gradually minted in Aluminium. This change commenced with the introduction of the new hexagonal 3 paise coin. A twenty paise coin was introduced in 1968 but did not gain much popularity.

Aluminium Series 1964 onwards

Denomination	Metal / Weight / Shape / Size	Coin
One Paisa	Aluminium-Magnesium 0.75 gms Square 17 mm (Daigonal)	See Other Distributions
Two Paise	Aluminium-Magnesium 1 gm Scalloped 20 mm (across scallops)	See Other Distributions
Three Paise	Aluminium-Magnesium 1.25 gms Hexagonal 21 mm (Diagonal)	See Other Distributions
Five Paise	Aluminium-Magnesium 1.5 gms Square 22 mm (Diagonal)	Other Distributions
Ten Paise	Aluminium-Magnesium 2.3 gms Scalloped 26 mm (across scallops)	Other Distributions
Twenty Paise	Aluminium-Magnesium 2.2 gms Hexagonal 26 mm (diagonal) 24.5 mm (across flats)	See Other Distributions

Over a period of time, cost benefit considerations led to the gradual discontinuance of 1, 2 and 3 paise coins in the seventies; Stainless steel coinage of 10, 25 and 50 paise, was introduced in 1988 and of one rupee in 1992. The very considerable costs of managing note issues of Re 1, Rs 2, and Rs 5 led to the gradual coinisation of these denominations in the 1990s.

Contemporary Coins

Denomination	Metal	Weight	Diameter	Shape
See Other Distributions	Silver	- gms	23 mm	Circular
See Other Distributions	Silver	- gms	23 mm	Circular
See Other Distributions	Silver	- gms	23 mm	Circular
See Other Distributions	Silver	- gms	23 mm	Circular
See Other Distributions	Cupro-Nickel and Silver	- gms	23 mm	Circular
See Other Distributions	Cupro-Nickel	9.00 gms	23 mm	Circular
Other Distributions	Cupro-Nickel	6.00 gms	26 mm	Eleven Sided
Other Distributions	Ferratic Stainless Steel	4.85 gms	25 mm	Circular
Other Distributions	Ferratic Stainless Steel	3.79 gms	22 mm	Circular
Other Distributions	Ferratic Stainless Steel	2.83 gms	19 mm	Circular
See Other Distributions	Ferratic Stainless Steel	2.00 gms	16 mm	Circular