A Tale of 3 Designs


The design of Indian Definitive’s has been more or less same over the period of years. This does not mean there weren't opportunities, it just that things did not get materialized and when they did, they happened in a wrong way.

The first opportunity was when the coinage was being decided after Independence, there were quite a few pattern coins proposed, but got rejected due to one reason or other. The second window was when the Decimal coinage was being designed. Again it was a window of lost opportunity quite a few new designs were proposed that were rejected due to one reason or the other.

In between the first coin to deviate from the standard design was the 20 Paise that had Lotus. Again the opportunity to redesign other coins on this lines was shelved.

For the first time in Indian Coinage History, around 2004 the design of the definitive coins was given outside the mint to NID [National Institute of Design] in Ahmadabad. There were 3 designs that were proposed
  • Unity in Diversity 
  • Nritya Mudra 
  • IT and Connectivity 

The Coins were designed from 50 Paise to Rs 10. The Rs 10 coin was to be introduced for the first time in 2004.


Unity & Diversity
The Unity in Diversity had 2 intersecting lines with 4 dots. It was to be read as Four Heads sharing a common body. Depicting the Unity in Diversity that we have here. The 50 Paise coin never got minted, the other were minted for a brief period during which there was controversy. Read more about it here.
A Description from the RBI Press Release;
Obverse: This face of the coin shall bear the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar with the legend “Satyamev Jayate” inscribed below, flanked on the left upper periphery with the word “Bharat” in Hindi and on the right upper periphery flanked with the word `India' in English. It shall also bear the denominational value in International Numerals flanked on the left lower periphery with the word "Rupaya" in Hindi and right lower periphery with the word "RUPEES" in English.
Reverse : This face of the coin contains the visuals showing stylized representation of "Unity in Diversity" a defining characteristic of our country. The symbol shall be seen as four heads sharing a common body. It shall be thought of as people from all four parts of the country coming together under one banner and identifying with one nation. The visual code helps the user connect the visual with an individual denomination, which makes the process of identification quicker.



Nritya Mudra
These were designed using the various hand gestures of the India Classical dance form Bharat Natyam. The Gestures used on the 50 paise was “Clenched Fist” , on One Rupee “Thumbs Up” and on Two Rupees was “Two Fingers”

As per the RBI press release;
Obverse : This face of the coin is divided into three portions with two horizontal lines. The centre portion shall bear the "Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar" with the legend " Satyamev Jayate " inscribed below.
The top portion contains word 'Bharat' in Hindi and "INDIA" in English. The bottom portion contains the year in International Numerals.
Reverse : This face of the coin contains visuals showing one of the "Mudras" of India's most famous classical dance, "Bharat Natyam" in centre right periphery and in centre left periphery denomination value in International Numerals, below that the word "Rupaya" in Hindi and the word "Rupees" in English.


IT and Connectivity
There were 2 distinct designs, one was radiating waves. The other was waves.
Rs 5 Description
Obverse : The face of the coin is divided into three portions with two horizontal lines. The center portion shall bear the "Lion Capitol" of Ashoka Pillar with the legend "Satyamev Jayate" inscribed below. The top portion contains word "Bharat" in Hindi and "INDIA" in English and bottom portion contains the Year in International Numerals.

Reverse : The lower periphery of this face of the coin contains the two visual metaphors which depicts the smooth fluid mass representing the ceaseless flow of data/information in the ether. In the center, Denominational Value "5" in International Numerals and in upper periphery the word "Rupaya" in Hindi and the word "Rupees" in English.

Rs 10 Description

Obverse: This face of the coin is divided into three portions with two horizontal lines. The centre portion shall bear the "Lion Capitol" of Ashoka Pillar with the legend " Satyamev Jayate " inscribed below. The top portion contains word " Bharat " in Hindi and "INDIA" in English. The bottom portion contains the year in International Numerals.

Reverse: In the upper periphery, the outward radiating pattern depicts growth and connectivity. In the centre, there shall be denominational value "10" in International Numerals and in Lower periphery the word "Rupaya" in Hindi and the word "RUPEES" in English.

The Designs shown below. Not some of the designs in some denomination never got struck. There are also minor design changes from what was proposed to what actually got struck.









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