Evolution And Journey Of 5 Paise Indian Coins

In 1957 A New Coin with a denomination of 5 "Naye Paise" were introduced in INDIA in the Category of Decimal Coins. Its fractional value in comparison to One Rupee was 1/20. It was a beautiful coin made of Copper and Nickel and had a pleasant & smooth appearance. Details of this coins are as under :

Year Of Circulation : 1957-1963

Value : 5 PAISE = 1/20 RUPEE

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

Shape : Quadrangular (With Rounded Corners)

Diameter : 22 mm

Thickness : 1.7 mm

Weight : 4 Gms.

Obverse Description : 

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

Reverse Description : 

Semi Circular Lettering "रुपये का बीसवाँ भाग" in Hindi and a bold numeric "5" 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 #16

5 Naye Paise Copper Nickel Coin 1957 India

Second issue of this coin was issued in the year 1964 which had all features same as the coin mentioned above with only one change in its reverse. The letter below Numeric "5" "नये पैसे" was replaced with "पाँच पैसे" and every other features were kept unchanged. This coin was issued up to 1966. 
Minted At : Bombay, Calcutta & Hyderabad.

Reference : KM #17

5 Paise Copper Nickel Coin 1964 India

Further, from 1965 metal of this coin was changed. Instead of a Copper + Nickel Alloy now Aluminium 96% + Magnesium 4% Alloy was used for minting a coin of this denomination. Thus, weight of the coin was also reduced. Now, it was a light weight coin compared to its previous version. Features of this coin is given below : 

Year Of Circulation : 1967-1971

Value : 5 PAISE = 1/20 RUPEE

Metal : Aluminium (Aluminium 96% + Magnesium 4%)

Shape : Quadrangular (With Rounded Corners)

Diameter : 22 mm

Thickness : 2.2 mm

Weight : 1.6 Gms.

Obverse Description : 

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

Reverse Description : 

Semi Circular Lettering "रुपये का बीसवाँ भाग" in Hindi and a bold numeric "5" 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 #18
Some more variations of this coin were also issued which were further referred as KM #18.1& KM #18.3.

5 Paise Aluminium Coin 1967 India

Again in the year 1972 a change was made there in this coin which grossly changed its appearance and features too. Reverse of this coin was converted in a new style. Now the fractional ratio with Rupee was withdrawn and a big Numeric "5" had replaced the smaller one. Now the denomination of the coin in both Hindi "पैसे" and English "PAISE" were given at the either side of the Numeric "5" in a circular curved lettering. And, instead of straight letters, date was also changed in a circular curved style of lettering. 

Year Of Issue/Circulation : 1972-1984

Minted At : Bombay, Calcutta & Hyderabad.

Reference : KM #18.4

However, another variation of this coin, which was further referred as KM #18.6 was also issued with few changes in Obverse like different font of "D" in INDIA and a fat and hairy Lion.

5 Paise Aluminium Coin 1972 India

The final and last version of this coin was issued since 1984 to 1994 with a gross change in its Obverse, Reverse and Thickness. Thickness of the coin was reduced. Hence, the coin became much lighter in weight. At Obverse, the size of Ashoka Lion Capitol was reduced with an added Legend "सत्यमेव जयते" below the pedestal of it. Lettering fonts in both Hindi & English were changed at both the Obverse and Reverse. Further, the Numeric "5" in the Reverse also looked much attractive due to its thinner font.

Year Of Issue/Circulation : 1984-1994

Value : 5 PAISE = 1/20 RUPEE

Metal : Aluminium (Aluminium 96% + Magnesium 4%)

Shape : Quadrangular (With Rounded Corners)

Diameter : 22 mm

Thickness :1.5 mm

Weight : 1 Gms.

Obverse Description : 

Ashoka Lion Capitol With Legend "सत्यमेव जयते" (Meaning : Truth Alone Triumphs) below the pedestal of it. Lettering "भारत" & INDIA appearing at either side.

Reverse Description : 

A bold numeric "5" in a thinner font featuring in the center. At the bottom of it written year of Mintage with Mint Marks. "पैसे" and "PAISE" written at either sides of the Numeric "5" at the Reverse.
Minted At : Bombay, Calcutta & Hyderabad.

Reference : KM #23

5 Paise Aluminium Coin 1988 India

After the circulation of almost ten years this coin was stopped from being minted any more. But, it remained in the circulation for few more years. Overall life for this denomination was almost 40 years in circulation in Indian economy. 

Still, all variants of this coin carry a great value for the #Numismatists and #Coin_Lovers all around the world. 

Meanwhile, during the same era of circulation was 5 PAISE Coins some Commemorative Issues in the same denomination were also minted and circulated. Please wait for our next post about Commemorative Issues Of 5 PAISE Indian Coins.

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Golden Era Of Aluminium Coins Of Republic India : Part - 1

How many of you do remember the days when few aluminium coins in your pocket were enough to make you feel rich? Perhaps a few? But, yes those were the days when it was a truth. Later, after passing of the time their value went off and they became of no use. Let us remember those days once again at least just for the sake of remembrance. First Aluminium Coin was issued in Independent India was of a value of 1 Paisa. Mintage of these coins were started in the year of 1965 and continued till 1981. More details about this coin is as mentioned below :

Year Of Issue : 1965-1981

Value : 1 Paisa = 1/100 RUPEE

Metal : Aluminium (96% Aluminium + 4% Magnesium)

Shape : Square 

Diameter : 17 mm

Thickness : 1.7 mm

General Description : Aluminium Coin with Rounded Corners and Embossed Edge.

Obverse Description : 

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

Reverse Description : 

Semi Circular Lettering "पैसा" and "PAISA" at both the sides with a bold numeric "1" featuring in the center and at the bottom of it Year of Mintage with Mint Marks.

1 Paisa Aluminum Coin

These coins have ruled the Indian pockets for a pretty long time. But, as a result of devaluation of money later they lost their worth and went away from the circulation. Though this coin has lost its time, yet the Indian people may remember the famous song. 

गरीबों की सुनो, वो तुम्हारी सुनेगा.

तुम एक पैसा दोगे, वो दस लाख देगा. 

Secondly we'll discuss another Aluminium Coin which came in existence was a coin of 2 Paise. Though, it was actually third Aluminium Coin which was circulated in India. Whereas, a 3 Paise Aluminium Coin was the second Aluminium Coin which came in to circulation. Nevertheless, we'll discuss about the same later after this. Now, let us talk about 2 Paise Aluminium Coin which also was started minting since 1965 and continued up to 1981. Let's have a look about the important features of this coin.

Year Of Issue : 1965-1981

Value : 2 Paise = 1/50 RUPEE

Metal : Aluminium (96% Aluminium + 4% Magnesium)

Shape : Scalloped (8 rounded notches) 

Diameter : 20 mm

Thickness : 1.6 mm

General Description : Aluminium Coin with Scalloped Round Notches and Embossed Edge.

Obverse Description : 

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

Reverse Description : 

Semi Circular Lettering "पैसे" and "PAISE" at both the sides with a bold numeric "2" featuring in the center and at the bottom of it Year of Mintage with Mint Marks.

2 Paisa Aluminum Coin

This 2 Paise were also had a great value in those days and thus remained quite worthy since a long time and ruled over Indian pockets for more than 16 years. And, having it in the pocket was nothing less than anything.

Here, we should discuss about that Aluminium Coin Which was the actual second entry in the Era of Aluminium Coins in India. This was 3 Paise Aluminium Coin which was launched in the Year of 1964 and continued mintage till 1971. Please find below more details about this coin :

Year Of Issue : 1964-1971

Value : 3 Paisa 

Metal : Aluminium (96% Aluminium + 4% Magnesium)

Shape : Hexagonal (Six Sided with Rounded Corners) 

Diameter : 21 mm

Thickness : 2 mm

General Description : Hexagonal Shaped Aluminium Coin with Rounded Corners. 

Obverse Description : 

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

Reverse Description : 

Semi Circular Lettering "तीन पैसे" and a bold numeric "3" featuring in the center and at the bottom of it Year of Mintage with Mint Marks.

3 Paise Aluminium Coin

Govt decided to stop minting of this coin just after seven years of its commencement. Because, of late this denomination of coin could not establish its rationality since, other coin combinations were enough to suffice the need of three paise for all practical purposes. However, the minted coins remained in the circulation for a pretty long time and Indian mass had enjoyed its warmth in their pocket for a long-long time. 

Then it was the most popular 5 Paise Aluminium Coin which had too many versions in it. Though, the denomination of 5 Paise in Cupro-Nickel was arrived quite early in the year of 1957 only but the first Aluminium Coin in this denomination was issued in the year 1967. Further, a second version of this coin came in 1972 which continued till 1983 and later a last but not the least another version came in 1984 and continued till 1994. Hence, It could be said that this was the coin which had the longest survival in the Indian Market and its economy. Details of its first issue is mentioned below:

Year Of Issue : 1967-1971, [1972-1983 & 1984-1994(Thinner Coin)]

Value : 5 Paisa = 1/20 Rupee

Metal : Aluminium (96% Aluminium + 4% Magnesium)

Shape : Quadrangular (4 Sided with Rounded Corners) 

Diameter : 22 mm

Thickness : 1.5 mm

General Description : Quadrangular Shaped Aluminium Coin with Rounded Corners. 

Obverse Description : 

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

Reverse Description : 

Semi Circular Lettering "रुपये का बीसवाँ भाग" and a bold numeric "5" featuring in the center and at the bottom of it "पाँच पैसे" written in Hindi followed by Year of Mintage with Mint Marks.

5 Paise Aluminium Coin

Now, if we see the total duration of circulation then it could be clearly said that "Yes, it was the 5 Paise Aluminium Coin which have been had its longest presence in the Indian economy and in the pockets of Indian people. This was the coin which was happily accepted in the transactions even after many years of withdrawal of mintage.

In next post we shall discuss about other Aluminium Coins of Republic Of India. Till then, "Happy Reading" and Lots Of Good Wishes For You And Your Family. 

To Be Continued : Please Click Here

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