Discussion: India - 5 rupees new issue

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Rs 5 or 50p coin: Looks are deceptive
19 Jan 2008, 1330 hrs

BANGALORE: The next time you get a Rs-5 coin as spare change, ensure it's not a 50-paise coin, for it's hard to distinguish between the two. The diameter of both the coins are almost identical, but 50 paise coins are slightly thin with a marginal difference in design.

Explaining the change in coin size, Alpana Killawalla, chief general manager, RBI (Mumbai), said, "With the rise in international prices of copper and nickel, the intrinsic value of the coins were becoming higher than the actual embossed value. So, it was necessary to switch to a cheaper metal.''

With the introduction of the new Rs-5 coin, RBI has completed the process of switching from the use of cupro-nickel to ferritic stainless steel. Henceforth, the entire series-from 10 paise to Rs 5-will be produced using the new composition of ferritic stainless steel and chromium.

The new Rs-5 coin bears the Lion Capital of the Ashoka Pillar with the legend Satyameva Jayate inscribed below; the words 'Bharat' in Hindi and 'India' in English are embossed on the left and right, respectively. The year 2007 is also embossed on this side.

On the flip side, the low er periphery has a stylized representation of two visual metaphors depicting the fluid mass representing ceaseless flow of information. The top portion has the denomination value '5' in international numerals, and it's flanked by the words rupye in Hindi and 'rupees' in English on the upper left and right peripheries, respectively. The 23-mm coin also has security edges, with the design consisting of a chain of beads in relief and inclined lines in relief.

Denomination: Rs 5

Diameter: 23 mm with security edges

Weight: 4 gm (approx)

Metal composition: Ferritic stainless steel, chromium

Denomination: 50 paise

Diameter: 22 mm

Weight: 3.79 gm

Metal composition: Stainless steel, chromium

Source: The Times of India

[Rangnath]

They are too similar for my taste!
richie

[BC Numismatics]

Richie,if someone offered me those coins,I'd be more than happy to land them for my collection.

Aidan.