1 Paisa Coin Republic of India (Aluminium Metal)

Republic of India, Years of Minting: 1965–1981 CE, Denomination: 1 Paisa, Metal: Aluminium, Weight: 0.75 grams, Diameter: 17 mm, Reference: KM# 10, About Very Fine.

Obverse: Ashoka lion capital centered with country name in Devanagari ‘भारत’ and Latin ‘INDIA’ on either side.

Reverse: Denomination “1 PAISA” with Devanagari “पैसा” above the date, within a simple and clear layout for easy identification.

Issued during the later decades of the Republic of India, this aluminium 1 Paisa coin represents a phase of economic adaptation in the country’s monetary system. After the introduction of decimalisation in 1957, where 100 Paise equaled one Rupee, the need for cost-effective coinage became increasingly important as inflation reduced the value of lower denominations. To address this, aluminium replaced heavier metals like bronze, allowing the government to mint coins in large quantities at minimal cost. The distinctive square shape with rounded corners made the coin easily recognizable and practical for everyday handling. Widely circulated throughout the 1960s and 1970s, it played a key role in facilitating small-value transactions across both urban and rural markets. Over time, however, rising inflation significantly reduced its purchasing power, leading to its gradual withdrawal from circulation. Today, it remains a simple yet historically significant artifact of India’s evolving decimal currency system.