The Indian five paise () (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, the 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". Five paise coins were minted from 1964 to 1984. 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. The coins were demonetized in 1994.

Mint marks Depending on the mint producing the coins, following mint marks appear: Mint Mark Description Comments Hyderabad ☆ Five-pointed star Kolkata No mint-mark Since this was the first Indian mint, coins minted in Kolkata don't carry a mark. Mumbai ⧫ Diamond • Small dot (solid) B Letter B below year M Letter M below year On coins minted after 1996. Noida ° Small dot (hollow)

Total mintage Total 4,924,011,110 coins were minted from 1964 to 1994.

Composition Five paise coins were minted from Cupronickel, Aluminium and Aluminium-magnesium in medallic alignment. The coins were rhombus shaped and had smooth edge.

1964-1966: Cupronickel. 1967-1984: Aluminium. 1984-1994: Aluminium-magnesium.

Variants 5 paise coin variants (1964-1994). Image KM# 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 Cupronickel Smooth State Emblem of India& country name inHindi and English. Face-value, year and letteringरूपये का बीसवाँभाग; (E: 20thpart of a rupee) 1964 1966 18.1 1.6 g Aluminium 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 Indian paisa

References