16)The introduction and stabilization of the five rupee coin in the Indian context:

The introduction and stabilization of the five rupee coin in the Indian context:

Indian mints experimented with two commemorative coins in the five Rupee denomination , one coin in 1985 to honour the lifetime of Indira Gandhi (after her death in 1984), and the second coin  ,in 1989, to celebrate   the birth centenary of her father , Jawaharlal Nehru .  

 Any further plans to mint 5 rupee coins for bulk circulation were shelved, till 1992, when the steep rise in costs of printing Rs.2/- and Rs.5/- left Reserve Bank of India (RBI) with no option, but , to phase out the currency notes of these denominations  and to replace them with coins. While the details of the Rs.2/- denomination coins are covered in a separate post, the 5-rupee coins are covered in detail here.

1992-2004 series:

These are now referred to as the old Reserve Bank of India coins (circular in shape) and they were made of cupro-nickel. They weighed 9 gms. and had a diameter of 23mm . These coins were minted at Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad mints. I have collected the whole series of these coins, which I am recording here, for reference:

On the obverse, these coins showed the Lion Capital, with the words “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth always prevails)  which is an integral part of all Indian coins since the early 1980s, and the words “Bharat” in Hindi on the left side  and “India” on the right hand side of the Lion capital.

 Obverse design of  five-rupee coins issued from 1992-2004.

On the reverse, these coins exhibit  a bold  numeral “5” in the centre of the coin, flanked by a blooming lotus  and lotus buds  on a stem , on either side of the numeral (Lotus is the National  flower of India). The words “Rupiye’ is written in Hindi above the numeral “5” and in “Rupees” in English,  below the numeral “5”.

Reverse of a 1992 coin minted at Mumbai mint (diamond mint mark) below the year of issue. This is one of the first few coins minted in this series. I got it while trekking in the Sahyadri mountain Ranges, in the adjoining areas of Pune, when I stopped for a cup of tea .

 Reverse of a 1993 coin minted at Mumbai mint. Can you identify the mint?

 Reverse of a 1994 five rupee coin minted at Hyderabad mint (five-pointed star mint mark below the year of issue).

Reverse of a 1995 five rupee coin minted in 1995 at Kolkata mint (No mint mark).

Reverse of a 1996 coin minted at Kolkata. Can you identify the mint mark. Sorry, that was a trick question!

 Reverse of a coin minted at Mumbai mint. You might ask, why not Noida mint, which has a dot as its mint mark. The reason is that at Noida mint, only Ferritic Stainless steel coins are made, and Mumbai mint also has the dot mint mark as one of its marks, from the times of British India.

Reverse of a 1998 five rupee coin minted at Hyderabad mint (five pointed star mint mark below the year).

Reverse of a 1999 five rupee coin from Mumbai mint.

Reverse of a 2000 coin from Hyderabad mint.

Reverse of a 2001 coin from Mumbai mint.

Reverse of a 2002 coin from Mumbai mint.

Reverse of a 2003 coin from Hyderabad mint.

Reverse of a 2004 coin from Mumbai mint.

2007-2008 series:

During the years 2005 and 2006, coins in the style of the one and two rupee coins were proposed to be struck, but due to the objection that the new  one and two rupee coins were not helpful in letting the visually  challenged persons identify them,as also, that, the "Unity in Diversity" design resembled the Denier of Louis the Pious, therefore, did little to promote unity among various segments of India, the plans to mint five rupee coins in that style were shelved and  a new design Ferritic stainless steel (FSS) coin was issued only in 2007 and continued in 2008. 
 

The weight of these coins was reduced to 6 gms. due to rising cost of metals/inflation and they have a diameter of 23mm like the earlier coins.

 Obverse of a 2007 five rupee coin from Hyderabad mint.

 Obverse of a 2008 five rupee coin from Mumbai mint.

On the obverse,these coins had  the words “Bharat” and “India” written above the two parallel lines, the Ashoka Lion capital with the words “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth always prevails) in between the two parallel lines and the year of issue, below the two parallel lines.

On the reverse , was the numeral “5” with the words  “Rupiye” in Hindi followed by “Rupees” in English, above the numerals. The rupee seems to be floating above a river or ocean, which has been interpreted as a “wave of information” technology, however , some numismatists simply refer  to this coin as the “wavy lines” coin.

Personally, if you ask me, in a lighter vein, I would say that out of all the coins in mass circulation in India , this value of coin has the best chance of surviving the unrelenting waves of inflation which have been hitting our country over the past few years, therefore, the numeral 5 is shown floating above the choppy seas of inflation, like an Ark, but then, this is only my brain-storming idea, and has no basis whatsoever, and needs to be ignored by  researchers and numismatists.

2009-2010 series: 

The criticism that the series of coins started in 2007, was not very helpful in identification by the visually challenged persons still stuck.  In 2009, so as not to raise any controversy, the old design of 1992-2004 was reverted to, but with a cupro-nickel composition (with 75% copper ,20% nickel and 5 % zinc content) . This coin has a golden coloured coating which makes it look very  attractive.

The obverse and reverse designs are exactly similar to the designs of the 1992-2004 series. I have placed images of both these coins here:

Obverse of the five rupee coin minted ,in the old design in 2009 and 2010, and having a golden coloured coating .

Reverse of a 2009 coin minted at Mumbai.

Reverse of a five rupee coin minted in 2010 at Mumbai mint.

Take a look at the image of a coin from 2010 in this series which is from a packet straight from the mint. The golden coloured coating here seems to have melted down on the reverse , while it was going through the coating process at the mint.  At first , I was thinking of returning it at the restaurant where I got it from, but, then I thought, that, this coin might qualify as an “error” coin. Does it, though?

Posted on 16.08.2011:

My friend Krishna Tonpe has today brought for me a five rupee coin issued by Mumbai mint in 2011. These coins are now in circulation . A new series of coins has been introduced in 2013. (Please refer my post on the new Series on the following link: New Series of coins issued by RBI in 2011:)

Obverse of the above-mentioned coin, showing the Lion Capital with the words "Satyameva Jayate" (Truth always Prevails). On either flank are the words "Bharat" and "India".

The reverse of the five rupee coin issued in 2011 by the Mumbai Mint. Notice the diamond mint mark below the year of issue 2011. On either flank is the Lotus Flower design as in the earlier coins. The new rupee symbol is on top of the coin, below which is the numeral "5" showing the denomination of the coin. These coins are in circulation now and will replace the earlier designs.

Posted on 19.11.2011:

Take a look at this fake five rupee coin which I collected during my recent trip to Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh India) . It feels like a large battery cell on handling and has a faint imprint of the obverse of similar coins minted in 2008 and 2009.To my knowledge, this design was not minted in 2009. I collected it from the provision shop near the place  I was staying , against a payment of five rupees just to have it in my collection.

 Reverse of the said fake coin. A very interesting study, as the design has been copied almost exactly as the genuine coin issues.

Posted on 13.09.2012 :

At last, after months of checking at the Provision stores, Shopping Malls, my Gym buddies, visitors etc., I have managed to get three five rupee coins issued in 2012 by the Mumbai Mint.

Notice the diamond mint mark of Mumbai Mint below the year of issue 2012 on the reverse face of this coin. On either flank is the Lotus Flower design as in the earlier coins. The  rupee symbol is on top of the coin, below which is the numeral "5" showing the denomination of the coin.

Posted on 23.09.13:

Once again, after checking at various places, including Shopping Malls, provision stores and the hospital which operated me for my broken leg (I was more anxious that the counter assistant might be having a 2013 five rupee issue in her cash drawer, rather than being apprehensive about my impending leg surgery), I have finally managed to get a five rupee 2013 issue, again minted by the Mumbai Mint.

Again, notice the diamond mint mark of Mumbai Mint below the year of issue "2013" on the reverse face of this coin. On either flank is the Lotus Flower design as in the earlier coins. The  rupee symbol is on top of the coin, below which is the numeral "5" showing the denomination of the coin.

Posted on 12.09.14:

Continuing  with the trend for the past two years, this year too, I have acquired my first five Rupee coin in the month of September, this time from the person operating a Car parking lot, who had never examined his five rupee coins before and looked at all his coins for the first time with a new found interest. He has promised to keep all new coins for me to examine on my bi-weekly visit to a nearby shopping mall.

This coin too exhibits the diamond mint mark of Mumbai Mint below the year of issue "2014" on the reverse face of this coin. On either flank is the Lotus Flower design as in the earlier coins. The  rupee symbol is on top of the coin, below which is the numeral "5" showing the denomination of the coin.

Posted on 09.04.15:

Acquired my first circulating five rupee coin issued in 2015 yesterday from a mobile shop/outlet.

 This coin too shows the diamond mint mark of Mumbai Mint below the year of issue "2015" on the reverse face & is identical to all the previous issues  having this design since 2011.

Posted on 14.04.2016: 


I got my first circulating five rupee coin issued in 2016 yesterday from a restaurant:

This coin is also minted at the Mumbai Mint & exhibits its diamond mint mark.

Posted on 15.12.2016:
 The undernoted error coin images have been sent to me by Sushil, my SBI colleague and batchmate from 1982.

 In this image of the Reverse of the five rupee error coin struck at one of our India Government Mints, most probably the Kolkata Mint (notice that there is no mint mark below the year of issue), the coin blank has been struck partially, as a result the left periphery of the coin has been left blank and the strike has shifted towards the right leading to a distortion in the Reverse side image.

The Obverse side of the above coin has also been affected as a result of the partial strike, giving it an oblong look. The rim has been wiped out on the left periphery and the word "Bharat" (spelt in Hindi/Devnagri) has shifted towards the rim. The remaining image of the Asokan Lion Capitol and "India" on the right periphery appear blurred.

Posted on 28.02.2017:

I have acquired the following Rs.5/- coin issued in 2017, at a toll-booth day before yesterday:

 This coin is also minted at the Mumbai Mint & exhibits the diamond mint mark of the Mumbai Mint.

Posted on 25.04.2018:

I got the undernoted Rs.5/- coin circulated in 2018, yesterday at a snack shop:

As the one above, this coin too has been minted at the Mumbai Mint and shows the "Diamond" mint mark below the year of issue.

Posted on 26.10.2021:

A few days ago, I managed to collect a Five Rupee Coin from the new Series of Coins introduced in 2019. The minting/circulation of these coins got much delayed due to the Chinese Wuhan Virus pandemic (also known as Covid-19). As a result, only a few coins have reached circulation.

These Coins were supposedly designed to assist the visually impaired persons to identify them easily. However, I do not see any Braille markings on them. 

To top this, the quality of minting leaves much to be desired. Even the Lion Capitol Emblem of the Government of India on the Obverse of these coins looks worn-out/jaded. 

The Obverse and Reverse of the newly introduced Five Rupee Coin designs released with a 2019 mint year on them. Below the year of issue at centre left on the Reverse is seen the Diamond Mint Mark of the Mumbai Mint.

Some interesting links on Indian coins on this Blog:

1) Independent India issues: The evolution of the One Rupee Coin, the staedy building block of the Indian Monetary System

2) The Frozen Series and the early Indian Government issues

3) The Indian Coinage Act 1957 and the Decimal Series - 1957-64

4) The Aluminium Series 1964-1999

5) Independent India issues: The introduction and experiments of social themes on the two-rupee coins

6) Foreign mints which have minted coins for India and identification of their mint marks

7) Indian Mints & their mint marks

8) The introduction and stabilisation of the Five Rupee Coin in the Indian context

8) Independent India issues: 25 Paise Coins: the journey from usage over five decades to stepping into history

9) Fifty Paise Coin: The lowest denomination coin presently in circulation: Is it next on the chopping block?

10) Post Independence India Issues: Commemorating Sports in Indian Coinage

11) A Proof Coin set of Indian Coins from 1973, issued by the then Bombay Mint (present day Mumbai Mint), which includes Coins in the denominations of 1 Paise to 20 Rupees

 Links to other posts on Indian Currency/Banknote denominations on this blog:

1) Introduction of the new Rs.2000/- denomination in Indian Currency circulation wef 10.11.2016 

2) Classification and Valuation of Rs.1000/- denomination Banknotes 

 3) Classification and Valuation of Rs.500/- Banknotes

  4)Classification and Valuation of Rs.100/- Notes

5) Classification and Valuation of Rs.50/- Notes 

6) Classification and Valuation of Rs.20/- Notes 

7) Classification and Valuation of Rs.10/- Notes 

8) Classification and Valuation of Rs.5/- Notes 

9) Evolution and Valuation of one Rupee Banknotes in India

10) Did-you-know-series-1: Assists for identification of Currency Notes by visually challenged users 

11) Did-you-know-series-2-what-is-design-or focus of the picture at the back of circulating Currency Notes in India? 

12) Are you carrying a Fake Rs.500/- Banknote in your purse/wallet?: A comprehensive study 

13) Introduction of a Rs.200/- Banknote wef 25.08.2017: Reasons for introduction, Necessity & convenience to Users