India won its independence on 15th August, 1947. During the period of transition India retained the monetary system and the currency and coinage of the earlier period and introduced a new distinctive series of coins on 15th August, 1950.

Chronologically, the main considerations influencing the coinage policy of Republic India over time have been:

• The incorporation of symbols of sovereignty and indigenous motifs on independence;
• Coinage Reforms with the introduction of the metric system;
• The need felt from time to time to obviate the possibility of the metallic value of coins rising beyond the face value;
• The cost-benefit of coinisation of currency notes