Indian 5-paisa coin explained

Indian 5-paisa coin should not be confused with 5 naye paise (Indian coin).

Denomination:Five paise
Country:India
Value:5
Mass G:1.03
Mass Grain:15.9
Diameter Mm:22
Diameter Inch:0.87
Thickness Mm:1.5
Thickness Inch:0.06
Composition:Cupronickel
Aluminium &<br/>Aluminium-magnesium
Years Of Minting:1964–1994
Mintage:4,924,011,110.[1] [2] [3]
Mint Marks:⧫ = Mumbai
B = Mumbai proof issue
* = Hyderabad
No mark = Kolkata
Circulation:Demonetized
Catalog Number:KM 17,
KM 18.1 to 18.6
KM 19, 20, 21, 22 & 23
Obverse:File:5 Paise coin, India, 1965.jpg
Obverse Design:State Emblem of India with country name.
Reverse Design:Face value and year.

The Indian five paise (Hindi: पाँच पैसे) (singular: Paisa), is former denomination of the Indian Rupee. The 5 coin equals of the Indian Rupee. The symbol for paisa is .

History

Prior to 1957, Indian rupee was not decimalised and the rupee from 1835 to 1957 AD was further divided into 16 annas. Each anna was further divided to four Indian pices and each pice into three Indian pies till 1947 when the pie was demonetized. In 1955, India amended the "Indian Coinage Act" to adopt the metric system for coinage. Paisa coins were introduced in 1957, but from 1957 to 1964 the coin was called "Naya Paisa" (English: New Paisa. Plural: Naye paise). On 1 June 1964, the term "Naya" was dropped and the denomination was simply called "One paisa" (or paise for denomination greater than one). Paisa coins were issued as a part of "The Decimal Series".[4] [5] [6] Five paise coins were minted from 1964 to 1984.[1] 5 paise was equivalent to four-fifths of an anna (0.8 anna).

Mintage

Five paise coins were minted from 1961 to 1984 at the India Government Mints in Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad.[1] [2] [3] The coins were demonetized in 1994.[6]

Mint marks

Depending on the mint producing the coins, following mint marks appear:

Mint Mark Description Comments
Five-pointed star
No mint-mark Since this was the first Indian mint, coins minted in Kolkata don't carry a mark.[7]
Diamond
Small dot (solid)
B Letter B below year
M Letter M below year On coins minted after 1996.
° Small dot (hollow)

Total mintage

Total 4,924,011,110 coins were minted from 1964 to 1994.[1] [2] [3]

Composition

Five paise coins were minted from Cupronickel, Aluminium and Aluminium-magnesium in medallic alignment. The coins were rhombus shaped and had smooth edge.[1] [2] [3]

Variants

5 paise coin variants (1964-1994).
Image Technical parameters Description Year of minting Comments
Obverse Reverse Weight Diameter Thickness Metal Edge Obverse Reverse First Last
17 4.05 g 22 mm 2.2 mm Smooth State Emblem of India
& country name in
Hindi and English.
Face-value,
year and lettering
रूपये का बीसवाँ
भाग; (E: 20th
part of a rupee)
1964 1966
18.1 1.6 g 1967 1967 Number 5 on reverse smaller in size.
18.2 1.6 g 1967 1971 Arms type 1. Number 5 on reverse larger in size.
18.3 1.6 g 1967 1971 Arms type 2. Number 5 on reverse larger in size.
18.4 1.53 g 2.0 mm Face-value,
year and lettering.
1972 1972 Hindi lettering on reverse omitted.
18.5 1.53 g 1973 1978 Arms type 1. Number 5 on reverse larger in size.
18.6 1.53 g 1972 1984 Arms type 2. Number 5 on reverse larger in size.
23a 1.03 g 1.5 mm Aluminium-
magnesium
1984 1994 Lightest 5 paise coin.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 5 paisa variants. colnect.com. 31 August 2017.
  2. News: 5 paisa commemorative. colnect.com. 31 August 2017.
  3. News: 5 paisa cupronickle. colnect.com. 31 August 2017.
  4. News: Coin details. India Numismatics. 31 August 2017.
  5. News: Republic India Coinage. Reserve Bank of India. 31 August 2017.
  6. News: History of Indian coins. India Numismatics. 31 August 2017.
  7. News: Mint marks. indian-coins.com. 31 August 2017.