A Brief History of Indian Coinage
Year-wise denominations and key legislative shifts — from the Indian Coinage Act of 1835 to today's ₹20 dodecagonal coin.
British India Coinage
The Indian Coinage Act of 1835 established a uniform currency across the British Presidencies.
1835 – 1947
1835 – 1840
William IV & Early Victoria
- Gold: 1 and 2 Mohurs
- Silver: 1 Rupee, ½ Rupee (8 Annas), ¼ Rupee (4 Annas)
- Copper: ¼ Anna (Pice), 1⁄12 Anna (Pie), ½ Anna
1841 – 1861
East India Company
- Silver: 2 Anna coins added in 1841
- Copper: ½ Pice added in 1853
1862 – 1901
Regal Issues — Queen / Empress Victoria
- “East India Company” label replaced with “India”
- Silver: 1 Rupee, ½ Rupee, ¼ Rupee, 2 Annas
- Copper: ½ Anna, ¼ Anna, ½ Pice, 1⁄12 Anna
- Title changed from “Queen” to “Empress” in 1877
1903 – 1910
Edward VII
- Same denominations continued with the King’s effigy
1911 – 1936
George V
- 1918: Emergency Gold Sovereign minted
- 1919: 4 Anna and 8 Anna coins introduced in Cupro-Nickel
1938 – 1947
George VI
- 1940: Silver content reduced (“Quaternary Silver”) for 1, ½ and ¼ Rupee due to WWII
- 1943: “Holed” 1 Pice coin introduced to save metal
- 1947: Pure Nickel coins for 1, ½ and ¼ Rupee replaced silver entirely
Transition & Republic of India
From frozen British designs to the modern decimal system in use today.
1947 – Present
1947 – 1950
Frozen Series
- Independent India continued using British designs but froze the date at 1947
1950 – 1957
Anna Series
- First Republic coins featuring the Ashoka Lion Capital
- 1 Rupee, ½ Rupee, ¼ Rupee, 2 Annas, 1 Anna, ½ Anna, 1 Pice
1957 – 1964
Decimal Transition — Naya Paisa
- Rupee divided into 100 Naye Paise
- 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 Naye Paise, and 1 Rupee
1964 – Present
Modern Decimal
- 1964: “Naya” dropped; 3 Paise coin introduced
- 1968: 20 Paise coin introduced
- 1970s: 1, 2 and 3 Paise coins phased out
- 1982: First ₹2 coin (experimental)
- 1988: Stainless steel introduced for 10, 25, 50 Paise
- 1992: ₹1, ₹2 and ₹5 coins in circulation (replacing banknotes)
- 2005: First ₹10 Bimetallic coin
- 2011: All 25 Paise and below demonetised
- 2019: New dodecagonal (12-sided) ₹20 coin announced
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