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.
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A Little Bit of History about Indian Coins
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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...