New 5 Rs Coin vs Old 1 Re and 2 Rs Coin

All along, there were expectations that the new coin series would incorporate special features to aid the visually impaired in easy coin recognition. However, upon observing the old 1 Rupee coin, the current 2 Rupees coin, and the recently launched new 5 Rupees coin, it becomes evident that they all share a common diameter of 25 mm and nearly identical thickness.

The 1 Rupee coin with a 25 mm diameter was last issued in 2004, while the issuance of the 2 Rupees coin continued until 2019, and the circulation of the new series has recently commenced, creating a conflict with the earlier denominations.

The government anticipates that the new series will gradually replace the earlier series over time. However, in practical terms, it often takes decades to fully replace an earlier series, potentially causing confusion among the public in recognizing the coins. Despite obtaining approval from the association of the visually impaired before releasing the new series coins, the transition may pose challenges.

The new coin series was released in March 2019, with the circulation of the ₹2 and ₹5 coins having just commenced, while the introduction of other denominations is still pending.