Indian 50-paisa coin

Fifty paise

India
Value	50 (1⁄2 ₹)
Mass	2.9 g
Diameter	19 mm (0.75 in)
Thickness	1.5 mm (0.06 in)
Edge	Reeded
Composition	Nickel (1957-1971) Cupronickel (1972-1990) Stainless steel (1988-2011)
Years of minting	1957 (1957)–2011
Mint marks	Mumbai = ⧫ Mumbai Proof issues = B Hyderabad = * Noida = ° Kolkata = No mint-mark
Circulation	In circulation
Catalog number	KM#398, KM#374 and KM#70 to KM#55
Obverse
Design	State Emblem of India with country name
Reverse
Design	Face value and year flanked by National flower of India

The Indian 50 paisa coin, popularly called Athanni, is a denomination of the Indian rupee, equal to half a rupee, that is very rarely found in everyday circulation. Currently it is the lowest circulating denomination of the Indian rupee. The symbol for paisa is (). On 30 June 2011, when the 25 paisa and all other lower denomination coins were officially demonetised, the 50 paise coin became the lowest circulating denomination of the Indian rupee.

History

Prior to 1957, the Indian rupee was not decimalised. From 1835 to 1957, the rupee was divided into 16 annas. Each anna was further divided into four Indian paises (pice) and each paise into three pies till 1947 when the pie was demonetised. In 1955, the Parliament of India amended the "Indian Coinage Act" to adopt the decimal system for coinage. Paisa coins were introduced in 1957, but from 1957 to 1964 the coin was called "Naya Paisa" (English: New Paisa). On 1 June 1964, the term "Naya" was dropped and the denomination was simply called "One paisa". Paisa coins were issued as a part of "The Decimal Series". Unlike the demonetization of the paisa currency in June 2011, the 50 paisa coin continued to be minted until 1 October 2011. In 2019, new coin designs were adopted, but the 50 paise coin was not updated, as it had already ceased to be in common circulation.

Gallery

• 
  A 50 paise coin from 1946
• 
  A 50 paise coin from 1982

See also

• Indian paisa
• Coins of the Indian rupee