The smallest coin of modern India till 1988. This square ( with rounded edges ) aluminium coin replaced the circular "SMALL" coin. As in other denominations, the word "Naya" was missing from this coin. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A Little Bit of History about Indian Coins ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just like the OLD British Money of Pound/ Shilling/ Pence, India's currency - till 1957 - was essentially NON-Decimal. One Rupee ( 64 paise ) was divided into 16 Annas with each Anna comprising 4 Paise. A rather heavy coin of "One Quarter Anna" was in vogue till quite late in the 20th century when ONE paisa could buy all that one wanted or needed. 2 Paise was never referred to as such- rather it was Adha (half) Anna. With decimalization, it became 100 paise = 16 Anna and so the Anna was no longer 4 paise but 6 ( actually 6.25 ) paise. Hence arose the need to distinguish between the OLD PAISA (One Quarter Anna) & the NEW PAISA worth only 1/6 annas or even less. The 4 anna piece of yore became 25 Paise but still continued to be referred as 4-ANNA by the old timers. Similarly with 8 anna becoming 50 Paise, the 8-ANNA from my father's / grandfather's days had gradually become a PLAIN 50p. by the time my son came along. As on date, do not even try to give a 50 paise coin to the beggar on the street unless you want to be insulted. It is only the demented/ crazy numismatists who will look at such coins with unsurpassed glee...

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