Evolution And Journey Of 10 Paise Indian Coins

1957 was the year when a first coin with a denomination of 10 Naye Paise was issued. It was 1/10th of One Rupee. This beautiful coin was made of Copper+Nickel alloy having quite pleasant & smooth appearance. Details of this coins are as under :

Year Of Circulation : 1957-1963

Value : 10 PAISE = 1/10 RUPEE

Metal : Cu-Ni (75% Copper + 25% Nickel)

Shape : Scalloped (With 8 Rounded Notches)

Diameter : 23 mm

Thickness : 1.7 mm

Weight : 4.9 Gms.

Obverse Description : 

Ashoka Lion Capitol With Lettering "भारत" & INDIA appearing at either side.

Reverse Description : 

Semi Circular Lettering "रुपये का दसवाँ भाग" in Hindi and a bold numeric "10" featuring in the center. At the bottom of it "नये पैसे" written in Hindi, followed by Year of Mintage with Mint Marks. 
Minted At : Bombay, Calcutta & Hyderabad.
Reference : KM #24

10 Naye Paise Coin 1957

In 1964 the same coin was re-introduced with a little modification. Keeping everything same on the obverse there was only one change made in this coin. Instead of "नये पैसे" it was written "दस पैसे" now about the denomination of the coin. Details of this coins are as under :

Year Of Circulation : 1964-1967

Value : 10 PAISE = 1/10 RUPEE

Metal : Cu-Ni (75% Copper + 25% Nickel)

Shape : Scalloped (With 8 Rounded Notches)

Diameter : 23 mm

Thickness : 1.7 mm

Weight : 4.9 Gms.

Obverse Description : 

Ashoka Lion Capitol With Lettering "भारत" & INDIA appearing at either side.

Reverse Description : 

Semi Circular Lettering "रुपये का दसवाँ भाग" in Hindi and a bold numeric "10" featuring in the center. At the bottom of it "दस पैसे" written in Hindi, followed by Year of Mintage with Mint Marks. 
Minted At :  From 1957 to 1960 it was minted atBombay & Calcutta only.
                   From 1961 to 1963 apart from Bombay & Calcutta it was minted at Hyderabad                       too.
Reference : KM #25

10 Paise Coin 1964

In order to reduce the minting cost government decided to change the metal of 10 Paise Coin in 1968. Copper & Nickel alloy was replaced with Nickel & Brass. Though, this coin was withdrawn in 1971 since, many people started to make ornaments from this coin because of the gold like shine and glow of this coin and the metallic value of the coin was also increased due to price hike of the metal than its denominated value. Details of this coins are as under :

Year Of Circulation : 1968-1971

Value : 10 PAISE = 1/10 RUPEE

Metal : Nickel + Brass

Shape : Scalloped (With 8 Rounded Notches)

Diameter : 23 mm

Weight : 4.24 Gms.

Obverse Description : 

Ashoka Lion Capitol With Lettering "भारत" & INDIA appearing at either side.

Reverse Description : 

Semi Circular Lettering "रुपये का दसवाँ भाग" in Hindi and a bold numeric "10" featuring in the center. At the bottom of it "दस पैसे" written in Hindi, followed by Year of Mintage with Mint Marks. 
Minted At :  Bombay, Calcutta & Hyderabad
Reference : KM #26
However, one more variation of this coin was also found with a die damage in "9" of 1968. And this was referred as KM #26.1 which we'll discuss in another post of die-variety. 

10 Paise Nickel-Brass Coin 1968

And, after this an era of Aluminium Coins emerged and among the denomination of 10 Paise the first coin came in the year of 1971. Though the coin was less in weight as compared to current available coin of this value but its size was quite big and white shiny look due to aluminium made it too beautiful. Details of this coin is mentioned below :

Year Of Circulation : 1971 -1982

Value : 10 PAISE 

Metal : Aluminium 

Shape : Scalloped (With 12 Rounded Notches)

Diameter : 25.9 mm

Thickness : 1.9 mm

Weight : 2.3 Gms.

Obverse Description : 

Ashoka Lion Capitol Within the circle of beads surrounded with wreath & Lettering "भारत" & INDIA appearing at either side.

Reverse Description : 

Denomination followed by Year of Mintage with Mint Marks within the circle of beads surrounded with wreath. 
Minted At :  Bombay, Calcutta and Hyderabad.
Reference : KM #27

10 Paise Aluminium Coin 1971

Another variety in the same coin was also issued in 1979 with a little change in die and so with a different appearance. The obverse was kept almost same with the previous version. But, in the reverse of the coin font size of denomination and lettering "पैसे" and "Paise" were reduced and thus there was a visible gap between the wreath and the outer rim of the coin.  
Reference : KM #27.2

10 Paise Aluminium Coin 1979

Further, one more variety of this coin was introduced in 1980 which continued till 1982. In this coin the reverse was kept unchanged as 1979 issue but in obverse also the same pattern was applied by reducing the size of Ashoka Capitol and the lettering at both the sides "भारत" and "India". Due to this change in design the outer surrounding wreath came closer to the Ashoka Lion Capitol and the gap between the wreath and the rim became wider.
Reference : KM #27.3

10 Paise Aluminium Coin 1980

Gradually with the changing times another change took place in the shape, size and design of the coin of the denomination 10 Paise. The new coin was much smaller in size of the same metal Aluminium only as per details mentioned below :

Year Of Circulation : 1983-1993

Value : 10 PAISE 

Metal : Aluminium

Shape : Scalloped (With 8 Rounded Notches)

Diameter : 23 mm
Thickness : 1.95 mm

Weight : 1.75 Gms.

Obverse Description : 

Ashoka Lion Capitol With Lettering "भारत" & INDIA appearing at either side with the Legend "सत्यमेव जयते" below the pedestal of Ashoka Lion Capitol.

Reverse Description : 

Denomination in a bold numeric "10" featuring in the center. At the top "पैसे" written in Hindi and at the bottom of it "Paise" followed by Year of Mintage with Mint Marks. 
Minted At :  Mumbai, Kolkata & Hyderabad
Reference : KM #39

10 Paise Aluminium Coin 1983

Ultimately, in 1988 a final change was done in the coin of this denomination 10 Paise. Perhaps, the cost cutting was the priority so, now the size of coin was reduced to its optimum possibility. It was almost as little as initial One Naya Paisa Coin. But, the metal of the coin was used "Ferritic Stainless Steel". Details and the feature of the coin were as under :

Year Of Circulation : 1988-1998

Value : 10 PAISE 

Metal : Ferritic Stainless Steel

Shape : Round

Diameter : 16 mm
Thickness : 1.5 mm

Weight : 2 Gms.

Obverse Description : 

Ashoka Lion Capitol With Lettering "भारत" & INDIA appearing at either side with the Legend "सत्यमेव जयते" below the pedestal of Ashoka Lion Capitol.

Reverse Description : 

Denomination in a bold numeric "10" featuring in the center. Above of it "पैसे" and "Paise" at either side. Year of Mintage with Mint Marks below the numeric "10".
Minted At :  Mumbai, Kolkata, Noida, Ottawa (Canada) & Hyderabad
Reference : KM #40

10 Paise FSS Coin 1988

Finally, in 1998 mintage of this coin was discontinued but it remained as a legal tender even much after this. Almost by the year 2000 it was happily accepted in transactions. Though, in day to day transactions these coins have lost their acceptance but, a large number of coin lovers and numismatist are still running behind these coins and trying to make their collection enriched with these coins in its all variations and even year wise and mint wise too. 

Now, its time to check your collection, whether these coins are there or not? Hey, do check it fast. And, grab it soon if its not there in your collection.

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