Indian Coinage

A very interesting site for pictures and history of Indian coinage is http://www.bharatcoins.com/indiancoins.html. The links Edward VII, George V and George VI show, among others, the pie = the third of a paisa = the twelfth part of the Anna. Another interesting site for pictures of old currency notes is http://masoodmemon.wordpress.com/2008/08/20/rupees-at-the-time-of-british-empire/

Many of us remember with nostalgia the pre-1957 coins such as the square-shaped two-anna piece, the scallop edged one-anna piece, the annular one-paisa piece. Rupee, 8 anna, 4 anna, 2 anna and 1 anna pieces, carrying pictures of George V or George VI were very much around till the mid-60's.

Gulf countries and territories like Oman and Dubai, prior to the discovery of oil, looked mainly to India for their commerce and were heavily influenced by Indian customs and practices. Faisal bin Turki was Imam of Muscat and Oman - as the sultans were called in earlier days - between 1888 and 1913. I have, in my small collection of coins, two copper coins of 1/4 anna coined during his rule. The ruler is called Feessul bin Turkee, Imam of Muscat and Oman. 'Anna' was a direct import from British India. One thousandth of an Omani Rial is today called 'a baisa', clearly derived from 'paisa', as Arabic does not much distinguish between the 'b' and 'p' sounds. The site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatari_riyal says that Qatar used the Indian currency till as recently as 1966. Another site http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omani_rial tells us that the Indian Rupee and the Maria Theresa dollars were the currency in the region of the Trucial Coast before 1940. British interests in on the Trucial Coast were the responsibility of the Political Department under the Viceroy.

Talking of old coins, I have a Rupee coin (looks almost pure silver) of 1914 with the picture of George V, King Emperor, a 1/2 Rupee coin of 1946 with the picture of George VI, King Emperor and a one-paisa annular coin of 1946. I have another 1 paisa coin of one of the princely states, though the name is indistinct. Incidentally, I also have a Maria Theresa dollar of 1780.