Republic India Coins
Indian coinage since 1950 — the early anna series, the decimal changeover, and the definitive and commemorative issues that followed.
Republic India coinage
India's republican coinage begins in 1950, when the Lion Capital of Ashoka replaced the royal portrait. The first issues continued the familiar anna system, and in 1957 India moved to decimal coinage, with the rupee divided into 100 units. Those first decimal coins were marked naya paisa — new paisa — to signal the change, and the word naya was dropped a few years later once the system was established.
Since then the coinage has passed through several redesigns, changes of metal, and a long run of commemorative issues. Mint marks distinguish where each coin was struck and are one of the standard axes along which collectors build sets.
Common collecting approaches
- Year-wise — one coin of each denomination for each year.
- Mint-wise — the same year and denomination from each mint.
- By series — anna coinage, early decimal, and later definitive designs.
- By condition — building the set in uncirculated grade.