Quarter rupee

Because of this procedure, we can find identical versions of the Ashoka sculpture on coins of different denominations. The six versions (a to f) of the Ashoka sculpture on 25 paise coins of 1972-90 were illustrated in an earlier entry. Some of these versions are found once again on the 'elder brothers' of the 25 paise coins: the 50 paise and 1 rupee coins.

Click image to enlarge.

Version a. Here is a comparison of the version a Ashoka sculpture on a 25 paise coin (left) and the Ashoka sculpture on a 1973 50 paise coin KM# 61 (right). This comparison shows that they emanate from a single original scale model. Note the loop below the central 'lions' chin, formed by the central part of the lion's 'beard'.

Click image to enlarge.

Version b. Comparison of the version b sculpture on a 25 paise coin (left) and the sculpture on a 1975 1 rupee coin KM# 78.2 (right). These also appear to emanate from the same scale model.

Click image to enlarge.

Version c. Comparison of the version c sculpture on a 25 paise coin (left) and the sculpture on a 1962 1 rupee coin KM# 75.1 (right). This comparison shows that they emanate from a single original scale model. Note the almost circular eyes.

Click image to enlarge.

Version d. Comparison of the version d sculpture on a 25 paise coin (left) and the sculpture on a 1970 1 rupee coin KM# 75.2 (right). This comparison shows that they emanate from a single original scale model. Note the lower mane (or 'beard') in the form of a panel.

Click image to enlarge.

Version f. Comparison of the version f sculpture on a 25 paise coin (left) and the sculpture on a 1980 1 rupee coin KM# 75.3 (right). This comparison shows that they emanate from a single original scale model. Note the ducking lions to the left and right.

Apart from the above types, we also find special types, that have not been observed among the 25 paise coins. I will refer to these as version g and h.

Ashoka sculpture version a on a 25 paise coin (left), version g on a 1974 50 paise coin (middle) and version a on a 1973 50 paise coin (right). Click image to enlarge.

Version g. The version g sculpture is similar to version a, except the bull in the base has four legs instead of three. Apparently, the extra leg has been added at some point in the production process, thus producing a new variety from the same original engraving.

Details of the Ashoka sculpture on the 50 paise coins on the previous image. In the case of version g, the bull has two hind legs, as opposed to only one on version a. Click image to enlarge.

Now for the 1 rupee coin KM# 78.1 of 1975-79. The Ashoka sculpture on some of these coins look somewhat similar to version d, while another is distinctly different. In the first case, the central lion's lower mane (or 'beard') does not appear quite like the 'panel' on the version d sculpture on the 1970 rupee (see above). However, on closer exmination, the details look strikingly similar.

The lower mane (or 'beard') on 1 rupee 1970 (above) and 1977 (below). Click image to enlarge.

In the case of the two rupee coins compared above, the lower mane consists of six 'ropes', of which the ones to the extreme left and right are shaped like a finger, the remaining are rather lumpy, of which 'lump' 3 and 4 are connected. Apparently, both depictions of the sculpture emanate from the scale model for version d. The 'panel'-like appearance of the lower mane in the case of the uppermost image may result from the design being more thoroughly embossed in the die somewhere in the production process, while the other coin may represent a more superficial impression of the image, at the expense of the depth and relief of the sculpture on the coins.

Version d sculpture on 1 rupee 1977 (click image to enlarge).

Another coin, however, is distinctly different. The sculpture reminds of version b or d, but is different from both of them. I will refer to this version as 'version h'.

Ashoka sculpture version b on a 25 paise coin (left), version h on a 1978 1 rupee coin (middle) and version d on a 1970 1 rupee coin (right). Click image to enlarge.

Version h. On version h, the lion to the left has only two fur rows immediately behind the head. This is different from the version d, where the lion to the left has three fur rows in the same position - and from version b, where the same lion has a rather blurred mane, without any rows in it.

The mane of the lion to the left on version h on a 1978 1 rupee coin (left) and on version d on a 1970 1 rupee coin (middle and right). The lion has two fur rows immediately behind the head in the first case, and three fur rows in the latter. Click image to enlarge.

Apart from the strong vs weak impression of the image, leading to a slightly different appearance, there are additional factors which may influence the appearance of any design feature on any particular coin. A large coin may receive a more precise rendering of the image than does a small coin, due to the increased amount of space improving the possibility for details to be visible. Also, the image may have been adjusted or improved during the production process, the dies will gradually wear down, leading to a more blurred image on the coins, the coins themselves will wear, sometimes leading to a significantly different look.

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Added August 25th 2007:

1981: World food day:

1982: Ninth Asian games:

1985: Forestry for development:

Korean blanks
Some mid 1980ies coins have a distinctly flat edge, as opposed to the normal, somewhat rounded, edge. The explanation given in the SCWC 2007 (p. 993) is that the blanks resulting in the flat edge coins are Korean-made, as opposed to the usual Indian blanks. The flat edge phenomenon is to be encountered on coins of 1984-1986.

Flat edge (= Korean blank) above and rounded edge (= local blank) below on two different 25 paise coins (click image to enlarge).

In the case of the Korean blanks, the edge reeding is not very deep, and sometimes appear faint. In some cases the denticles along the rim on obverse and reverse are not fully struck up. This appears to be the outcome of poor dimensioning of the blanks.

No coins produced from Korean blanks earlier than 1984 have been recorded. Apparently, the supply of blanks from Korea was part of an attempt to alleviate the coinage crisis of the 1980ies, when the production of small change couldn't keep up with demand. As noted earlier, the mints of Ottawa, Birmingham, London and Taegu (in South Korea) were supplying coins for India during 1985-88.

Six coins minted from Korean blanks are listed below, together with three regular coins for comparison. First the edges.

Note coin no. 3, 7 and 9 from above - the coins minted from local blanks. These are clearly the odd ones in this group. The others are minted from Korean blanks. Note the faint edge reeding on some of them. (Click image to enlarge).

Now, the same coins in the same order as in the image above (click images to enlarge):

Wide D 3 1984 Kolkata, Korean blank.

Wide D 3 1984 Mumbai, Korean blank.

Wide D 3 1984 Mumbai, local blank.

Wide D 3 1985 Kolkata, Korean blank. Note the faint denticles along the edge on obverse and reverse.

Wide D 3 1986 Kolkata, Korean blank. Note the faint denticles along the edge on obverse and reverse.

Wide D 5 1986 Mumbai, Korean blank.

Wide D 5 1986 Mumbai, local blank.

Wide D 5 1987 Mumbai, Korean blank. Note the faint denticles along the edge on obverse.

Wide D 5 1987 Mumbai, local blank.

Apart from the coins illustrated above, I have also seen:
wide D 5 1986 Hyderabad local blank
wide D 5 1988 Mumbai local blank
wide D 5 1989 Mumbai local blank

Narrow D 1:

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The first 25 paise coins of the rhinocerios type were dated 1988. The new mint at Noida, which had never minted 25 paise coins of the 1972-90 type, was employed in the minting of the rhinoceros type.

The last recorded minting of the "wide D 4" subtype (minted by the Mumbai and Hyderabad mints) is a 1981 coin. The "wide D 3" subtype (now minted by all three mints) was issued simultaneously and beyond.

Wide D 1. The SCWC 2007 lists a peculiar type, KM# 49.7. This type supposedly has a "lion without whiskers" on the obverse, the reverse is of the 1972-90 type, it is made of nickel and carries the date 1972 and the Mumbai mint mark. The absence of whiskers on the central lion indicates that Ashoka sculpture "version c" was applied. This suggests, that an obverse die for the preceding type, KM# 48.2 (1965-67), was used. Also the coin was made of the same metal (nickel) as the preceding type, as opposed to the 1972-90 copper-nickel coins.

Thus, it appears that this is an intermediary type between KM# 48.2 and KM# 49, minted in 1972 at the Mumbai mint, using an old obverse die and old planchets, and a new reverse die. This type of intermediary coins, "mules", are usually unintended, and this type should perhaps be considered a freak. I have personally never encountered this coin, and cannot confirm its existence.

Wide D 2 and wide D 3. The coins above were minted with a different type of obverse die than the preceding subtype. The present subtypes have the version d Ashoka sculpture, i.e. the central lion has almond shaped eyes and visible whiskers. These subtypes were minted in great quantity at Mumbai and Hyderabad, and are very common. The obverse of the wide D 2 subtype measures 15.2 mm across the field, while the wide D 3 subtype measures 15.7-16.0 mm. Apparently, the wide D 2 subtype was minted during the early 1970ies only. (These subtypes combined correspond to KM# 49.1 in the SCWC 2007).

Wide D 4. Beginning in 1974, the Mumbai and Hyderabad mints applied yet another version of the Ashoka sculpture, version e. This was used alongside version d of the preceding subtypes. The version e sculpture can be recognized by an unusual feature: the "beard" below the central lion's chin consists of independent "ropes", of which the one in the center is pointed, and the two adjacent "ropes" form a cup around it. This subtype is rather scarce. (This subtype corresponds to KM# 49.4 in the SCWC 2007).

When the new 25 paise type was introduced in 1972, the Kolkata mint applied the narrow D design, as opposed to the Mumbai and Hyderabad mints. Three subtypes of the new type have the narrow D, and all three appear to have been introduced by the Kolkata mint (according to comments made earlier on the distribution of subtypes among the mints). These three subtypes will be described below.

Narrow D 1. The coin above, a 1972 coin minted at Kolkata, has the "version a" Ashoka sculpture on the obverse (thus, the bull in the base of the sculpture has three visible legs). Further, it has these characteristics: 15 mm across obverse field, 9 mm between lions' nosetips. (This subtype corresponds to KM# 49.2 in the SCWC 2007). (Note added Sep 3 '07: a much clearer coin of the same type can be viewed here).

Narrow D 2. The coin above, a 1973 coin minted at Kolkata, has the "version a" Ashoka sculpture on the obverse (thus, the bull in the base of the sculpture has three visible legs). Further, it has these characteristics: 16 mm across obverse field, 10 mm between lions' nosetips. (This subtype corresponds to KM# 49.3 in the SCWC 2007). In the case of the present subtype, the obverse field has been enlarged (by reducing the size of the beads along the rim), thereby providing enough space for an enlarged version of the Ashoka sculpture.

Narrow D 3. The coin above, a 1976 coin minted at Kolkata, has the "version b" Ashoka sculpture on the obverse (thus, the bull in the base of the sculpture has four visible legs). Further, it has these characteristics: 16 mm across obverse field, 9½ mm between lions' nosetips. (This subtype corresponds to KM# 49.6 in the SCWC 2007).

During the reign of Edward VII (1901-1910), when Kolkata was the capital of India, coins minted at Kolkata bore no indication of their mint of origin, while coins minted at Mumbai were marked with a small B for Bombay. This system was retained during the reigns of George V (1910-1936) and George VI (1936-1947), although the B for Bombay was substituted by a bead, dot or diamond in various positions. (There are a few exceptions to this rule, but we cannot go into details with this subject here). During the second world war a mint at Lahore was also employed. This mint was initially designated by a small L, though this was soon substituted by other markings. During the colonial era, the mint at Hyderabad produced its distinctive coinage for the kingdom of Hyderabad.

When India attained independence in 1947, Pakistan was established as a separate state, while inheriting the Lahore mint from the British. The state of India was reorganized into a federal republic, incorporating in the process a large number of princely states, which had been an integral part of the British colonial system. Thus, the mint of Hyderabad was incorporated into the system of mints administered by the central government of India.

The mint marks of the years immediately preceding independence were also applied after 1947. Thus, the coins of the Kolkata mint have no mint mark, while the coins of the Mumbai mint carry a diamond. The Hyderabad mint was designated by three different successive mint marks: vertically split diamond (1953-1960), incuse dot in diamond (1960-1968) and star (since 1963) (all dates according to the SCWC 2007, p. 987). The Noida mint, established in the 1980ies, is designated by a round dot.

Apart from the four mints of the Republic of India, a number of foreign mints have produced coins for India, namely Ottawa, Birmingham, Kremnica, London, Mexico City, Pretoria, Moscow and Taegu. The Mumbai mint has issued special coins in proof condition for collectors. These may carry a B (for Bombay) or M (for Mumbai) mint mark instead of the usual diamond.

The home pages of the Indian mints can be found here:

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Added July 9th 2007:

The Kolkata and Mumbai mints have been minting coins continuously throughout the era of Indian independence, while the establishment of the Noida mint was sanctioned by the government of India only in 1986, as stated above.

In Hyderabad, only 1 pice/paisa coins were minted during the 1950ies, adding the 3, 5 and 10 paise denominations to the production range in the 1960ies, and broadening the scope further since about 1970. Many of the Hyderabad issues of the 1950ies and 1960ies appear to be minted in small quantity. Thus, the Hyderabad mint only gradually became a regular mint alongside the others.

The foreign mints that have produced coins for India are listed below, together with the specific coins minted (according to the listings in SCWC 2007):

Ottawa: 10 p. 1988, 25 p. 1985, 1988, 50 p. 1988.
Birmingham: 1 r. 1985.
Kremnica: 1 r. 1998, 1999, 2000.
London: 1 r. 1985, 2 r. 1999.
Mexico City: 1 r. 1997, 5 r. 1999.
Pretoria: 1 r. 1998, 1999, 2 r. 1998.
Moscow: 2 r. 2000, 5 r. 1999, 2000.
Taegu: 50 p. 1985, 2 r. 1997, 1998.