FACTS OF COINS IN INDIA

OLDEST COINS

India is one of the oldest civilizations with a history of coinage dating back to the 6th century BCE. The oldest Indian coins were made of silver and were known as “Punch-Marked Coins” due to symbols punched onto them.

DECIMAL SYSTEM PIONEER

India was one of the first countries in the world to adopt a decimal system of coinage. This system was officially introduced in 1957.

THE INDIAN RUPEE SYMBOL

The Indian Rupee (₹) symbol, an amalgamation of the Devanagari script “र” (Ra) and the Roman capital “R,” was officially adopted in 2010.

VARIED METAL COMPOSITION

Indian coins are made from various metals, including copper, silver, gold, and various alloys. Different metals are used for different denominations.

BI-METALLIC COINS

India introduced bi-metallic coins in 2005. These coins typically have two different metals, such as aluminum-bronze and nickel-brass, and are used for higher denominations like ₹10.

NUMISMATIC MUSEUMS

India is home to several numismatic museums, including the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad and the Reserve Bank of India Museum in Mumbai, which showcase the history of Indian coins.