1950 - New Anna Series | Definitive Coin

The first definitive coin series are the Anna Series issued post-independence, introduced in 1950 though India retained the monetary system of the earlier period of British Raj.

Following India's independence in 1947, the coins of British India continued to circulate as a frozen currency until the Dominion of India formally became a republic on 26 January 1950. The first coins of the Republic of India were introduced in 1950, marking the beginning of an independent national coinage while retaining the existing monetary system.

The first Republic coinage comprised denominations of ½ Rupee, ¼ Rupee, 2 Anna, 1 Anna, ½ Anna, and 1 Pice. These coins are collectively known as the Anna Series or the pre-decimal coinage of independent India. Under this system, one Rupee was divided into 16 Annas, each Anna into 4 Pice, making a total of 64 Pice to a Rupee.

Although the designs were distinctly Indian, reflecting the nation's sovereignty through the Lion Capital of Ashoka and other national symbols, the traditional anna-based monetary structure remained unchanged. It was only on 1 April 1957 that India adopted the decimal system of coinage, under which one Rupee was divided into 100 Naye Paise (later simply called Paise). During the transition, both decimal and pre-decimal coins circulated simultaneously for a brief period until the anna series was gradually withdrawn from circulation.