9) The Aluminium series 1964-1999

The Aluminium coin series (1964 – 1999):

Rising  costs and high inflation led to the introduction of aluminium 1,2,3,5 and 10 paise coins during 1964 to 1968 , as against the cupro-nickel  and  nickel brass  coins  which were in use hitherto.  Although referred to as the Aluminium coins, they were a  mixture of Aluminium Bronze for some years for some coins and  a mixture of Aluminium Magnesium for the later part of their production. 

A 20 paise circular coin  as well as a 10 paise scalloped coin consisting of Aluminium Bronze were introduced in 1969, the production of which lasted only 3 years . 

These two coins did not prove to be cost-effective as people started hoarding the 20-paise coins because  they had a higher metal value than 20 paise, as such their production was withdrawn in 1971. 

The 20 paise coins were  later minted with an Aluminium Magnesium  composition from 1982 onwards . 

The details of various Aluminium Magnesium coins production as well as their dates of withdrawal , according to my understanding, are as follows:

One paisa  coins (square in shape) were minted from 1965 to 1972 and contained Aluminium Magnesium. (production discontinued in 1972).

  Obverse side of a one-paisa Aluminium -Magnesium square shaped coin from 1967 from my collection. Notice the words "Bharat" in Hindi and "India" in English. 

Reverse side of a one paisa Aluminium- Magnesium coin, 1967. Apart from the numeral "1" only the word "paisa" appears in Hindi and English. (Notice that although the Bombay mint mark is a diamond, here the diamond mint mark,  below the year 1967, has a hole inside it. This is a Hyderabad mint mark found in the earlier coins minted at Hyderabad).

Reverse side of a one paisa Aluminium-magnesium coin minted in 1968.

Reverse side of a one paisa coin from 1969.

Two paise coins  ( scalloped shape) were minted  in  1965 with Aluminium Bronze , and thereafter  were minted till 1980 with a content of Aluminium Magnesium (production discontinued in 1980).

 Obverse of a two paise coin .

Reverse of a two paise coin , minted at Calcutta mint in 1974 .

Reverse of a two paise coin minted at Calcutta mint in 1977.

3 paise coins ( hexagonal in shape) were minted from 1964 to 1971 contained Aluminium Magnesium  (Discontinued in 1972).

 Obverse of a three paisa coin minted in 1964. This is one of the first few coins minted in the Aluminium series after minting of the new paisa series was ceased.

 Reverse of the three-paise coin minted in 1964. Notice that the sheafs of corn which were the hallmark of the one rupee coins minted from 1962 till 2004 have been placed here on either side of the numeral 3 by the master engravers of Calcutta mint. ( No mint mark).

Reverse of a three-paise coin minted in 1971.This is one of the last few coins of this denomination minted by the Hyderabad mint. (Notice the 5-pointed star mint mark of the Hyderabad mint below the year 1971).

5 paise coins (square in shape) which were minted in 1967 to 1997  contained  Aluminium Magnesium (production discontinued in 1997).

 Obverse of a five-paise  coin minted in 1972.

Obverse of a five-paise coin minted in 1972 by Calcutta mint,showing no mint mark,  with "paise" mentioned in Hindi and English on both sides of the numeral 5.

Reverse of a five paise coin minted at Bombay mint in 1975, showing the diamond mint mark , below the year.

Reverse of a five paise coin minted by Bombay mint in 1981.

10 paise coins (scalloped in shape) were minted from 1964 to 1967 in cupro nickel, then from 1968 to 1971 in Aluminium Bronze and, thereafter, from 1971 to 1999 in Aluminium Magnesium. (production discontinued in 1999). 

 Obverse of a 1980 Aluminium-magnesium 10 paise coin, showing a floral pattern on the border.

Reverse of a ten paise coin showing a similar pattern on the back , minted in 1980 by Hyderabad mint (notice the five-pointed star below the year).

Reverse of a ten paise coin from 1983 made by Calcutta mint, showing two brackets on either side of the coin, as part of the new design.

 Reverse of a similar coin as above , minted by the Bombay mint in 1986.

The Noida mint which had started  coin production in 1988 took up a simultaneous production of Ferrite stainless steel (FSS) 10 paise coins  (alongwith other coins) to supplement  the issue of  FSS  coins being  made indigenously, as well as,  which were  procured from the Ottawa mint (Canada) in the same year. These coins looked very much like the one  naya paisa circular coins of the early 1960s in size  and had a stainless steel shine on them.  

Obverse of a ten paise FSS coin minted at Noida mint since 1988.

Reverse of a ten paise FSS coin minted at Noida mint in 1988.

Reverse of coin minted in 1989 at Noida mint. See the Noida mint mark of a dot , below the year.

Reverse of a 1990  ten paise coin produced by Mumbai mint showing the mint mark of a diamond, below the year.

 Reverse of FSS coin imported from the Ottawa mint (Canada) in 1988. Notice the "C" mint mark of the mint, below the year.

10 Paise (scalloped)& 20 Paise coins (circular), Aluminium Bronze series: were made with an Aluminium Bronze content from 1968 to 1971 (Production discontinued in 1971) for reasons which I have enumerated above. 

 Obverse side of a ten paise Aluminium-Bronze coin minted from 1969 to 1971 .

Reverse side of a ten paise coin from 1969, minted by Hyderabad mint (notice the star mint mark, below the year). This is one of the first few coins minted in this category.

A ten paise Aluminium-Bronze coin minted in 1970 at the Bombay mint. (Notice the diamond mint mark below the year)

 Reverse of a ten paise coin from 1971. This is one of the last few coins minted by Bombay mint in this category.

 Obverse of a twenty paise circular coin, minted in 1969, one of the first few coins minted in this category.

Reverse of the coin shown above , showing the lotus, the National flower of India with the year 1968 minted by Bombay mint.

Reverse side of a limited edition coin issued in 1969, celebrating the Birth centenary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Indian Nation with his portrait facing left. Notice that this side has become the reverse in this coin because the Lion Capital, which is the symbol of India's sovereignty (The country's Coat of Arms), has moved to the other side.

Obverse of the same 20 paise coin issued by the Bombay mint in 1969, showing the Lion capital . Notice that in the coins issued so far, the words "Satyameva Jayate " (Truth always Prevails) has still not been included on any side of the coins issued which is found in coins of a much later date.

Reverse of a limited edition 20-paise coin issued in 1970, celebrating the silver jubilee of the FAO(Food and Agriculture Organization) . The coin shows a Lotus, the National flower of India growing in a water body , with two grains of corn on either side of the picture, and the Sun shining in all it's glory on the lotus. There is a legend " Sab ke liye anaaj" in Hindi and "Food for All" in  English. Very few of these coins exist.

Obverse side of the same coin as above.

This series was discontinued in 1971.

Later in 1982 an Aluminium Manganese 20 paise coin (Hexagonal in shape) was introduced , the production of which continued till 1997.

 Obverse of the Hexagonal Aluminium-Magnesium 20 paise coin minted from 1982 onwards. Notice that the words "Satyameva Jayate" (Truth always prevails) now appears on this coin , below the Lion capital.

 Reverse side of a 20 paise coin from 1983, showing an intricate floral pattern.

Reverse of a 1985 20-paise coin from the same series.

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