Squarish coins

[Bimat]

The design resembles with the Malaya and British Borneo 1 Cent coin.(KM# 5).It was also a square shaped coin.Very few countries have square shaped coins these days,though..

[Bimat]

Yes-The Anna varieties in British period were square shaped.Even after independence,we had square shaped small coins (5 Paise etc etc..) The only difference is that the material changed from Copper nickel to Aluminum. There was a pattern 2 Annas coin (in 1952 if I'm not wrong) showing a peacock which was also square shaped.(Material :Bronze)


I have a cent piece of Malaya and British Borneo dated 1957.(But not in a good condition...)

[Bimat]

Not only India,Pakistan and B'desh,but Iraq had a square issue.I'm not very sure about its denomination and when it was introduced.
One advantage of square shaped coins is that they can be easily recognized,especially by blind people.But square shaped coins are not common these days..I know a triangular shaped coin of Cook Islands (I guess denomination is 2 $) which is in circulation..

Aditya

[Figleaf]

Coins are mostly round because when they are round, a coin operated machine can handle them in any position. A triangular coin can be handled in only three positions, so the machine must be equipped with parts that will push the coin in the right position, while other coins should pass these parts, a complicated and expensive option that increases the chance of malfunctioning. The more sides a coin has, the easier it is handled by machine parts. This is the reason that most square coins are either pseudo coins or meant for an economy with few if any coin-operated machines.

Peter

[Bimat]

Coins are mostly round because when they are round, a coin operated machine can handle them in any position. A triangular coin can be handled in only three positions, so the machine must be equipped with parts that will push the coin in the right position, while other coins should pass these parts, a complicated and expensive option that increases the chance of malfunctioning. The more sides a coin has, the easier it is handled by machine parts. This is the reason that most square coins are either pseudo coins or meant for an economy with few if any coin-operated machines.

Peter

That's true.That is why square (or other) shaped coins are (generally) struck with small denominations.Since these low denomination coins are not used in any kind of vending machines,they can be issued for circulation..

Aditya

[chrisild]

The Netherlands Antilles "square" coins are based on the Dutch 5 cent coins issued between 1913 and 1943. (Even the designs are very similar.) The German 5 ct occupation piece was also square but had a different orientation.

Also, the 5 cent coins from Curaçao (1948), the 50 cent and 5 florin coins from Aruba, and the 5 cent coins from Suriname (both Dutch Suriname and independent S.) are square ...

Christian

[Bimat]

Sri-Lanka had a similar square shaped issue.(Denomination:5 Cents,KM# 139,139a). The difference between the two is that former is Cu-Ni and other is Aluminum.KM# 149 is also a square shaped one, denomination being 10 Rupees.KM# 152 is also square shaped, but is a 'medal coin'.

[translateltd]

The Tongan pa'anga was rectangular with rounded corners, if memory serves.  Looks more like a plaque than a coin.

[BC Numismatics]

Sri-Lanka had a similar square shaped issue.(Denomination:5 Cents,KM# 139,139a).The difference between the two is that former is Cu-Ni and other is Aluminum.KM# 149 is also a square shaped one,denomination being 10 Rupees.KM# 152 is also square shaped,but is a 'medal coin'.

Aditya,
  Ceylon also issued square 5c. coins in both cupro-nickel & brass.Sri Lanka's 5c. coins were in brass & aluminium.

The Maldive Islands also issued square coins - the 2 Laari of 1960 & 1970-79.

The Straits Settlements issued square 1c. coins from 1920 until the 1930's.

Pakistan issued both 5 Pice & 5 Paisa coins in 1961,& 5 Paisa coins from 1962 until around 1996.

India has also had square 1 Paisa & 5 Paise coins.

Bangladesh had the 5 Poisha,which was more like a diamond than a square in some years.

Aidan.

[Bimat]

The Tongan pa'anga was rectangular with rounded corners, if memory serves.  Looks more like a plaque than a coin.

Yes,but they were all proof issues.The one with FAO theme is quite popular among collectors(and has become quite rare these days).
We can consider rectangular coins as a part of squarish coins (after all all squares are rectangles )

[dheer]

India 2 Anna issued from 1950 to 1957.

[dheer]

India 1/2 Anna issued from 1950 to 1957

[dheer]

India One Paise, initially round then changed to Square with Aluminium.

[dheer]

India 5 Paise, initially in Cu-Ni and then in Aluminium

[Ukrainii Pyat]

My largest square metallic money - Sweden 4 Daler 1731