Coins of India by Abhay Ghaisas

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Here is a new type stainless steel rupee coin. This was a commemorative issue for Maharana Pratap. On the obverse of the coin is the Ashoka Pillar above the numeral "1" indicating denomination. The text is around this. The text on right in English reads "RUPEE" and "INDIA". The text on left in Hindi reads "रुपया" (rupayaa, meaning rupee) and "भारत" (bhaarat, meaning India).

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Here is the smaller nickel one rupee coin. Probably after centuries, we saw a rupee that had a different weight. The standard rupee weight of 11.6 grams (a "tola") was always maintained till then despite changing the metal used from the traditional silver to other base metals.

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Here is a stainless steel one rupee coin that celebrates the international year of the family. On the obverse, we have the standard patter of Ashoka Pillar above the numeral "1" indicating the denomination. On the right, we have the text "RUPEE" and "INDIA" in English. On the left, the same text "रुपया" (rupayaa, meaning rupee) and "भारत" (bhaarat, meaning India) is repeated in Hindi.

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Here is the true rupee coin. Silver, about 11.6 grams (one "tola") was the age old definition of the Rupee. Here is one that was produced in the reign of Victoria.

The obverse gives the denomination in words as "ONE RUPEE" and the country and year. The reverse shows the portrait of the sovereign along with the words "VICTORIA QUEEN" around nearer to the border. The obverse also has a nice pattern resembling some creepers. Full 3 cm. across, the coin is really a beauty. It's like holding a piece of history in hand.

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This is a commemoration coin for Rajiv Gandhi, the former prime minister of India. He was assassinated in 1991 by a bomb blast. The coin is has the Ashoka Pillar and the numeral one on the obverse and a portrait of Rajiv Gandhi on the reverse. The reverse also has words "RAJIV GANDHI" in English and "राजीव गांधी" in Hindi along with his lifespan.

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The one rupee coin has also been minted in the same pattern as the new stainless steel two rupee coin. Although the shape, size, and material of the new coin is same or similar to the earlier stainless steel rupee, the new coin uses the until now strange pattern of putting the Ashoka Pillar and the numeral one that indicates denomination side-by-side on the obverse.

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This is 2004 coin commemorating the completion of 150 years of the India Post. On the obverse, we have the Ashoka Pillar above the numeral 1 that indicates the denomination. This is as per the standard practice for Indian coins when the Ahoka Pillar Symbol and the denomination need to be swon on the same side as the other side is being used for the subject being commemorated.