The National Emblem of India - depicting on republic India coins

The National Emblem of India is an adapted version of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath. The Government of India adopted the Emblem on January 26, 1950. The original Ashoka Lion Capital comprises four lions, standing back to back, mounted on a cylindrical abacus. The abacus features the sculptures of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull, and a lion, separated by 24-spoked Dharma wheels over a bell-shaped lotus.

However subtle changes have been incorporated while adopting the Lion Capital of Ashoka as India's National Emblem. In the Emblem only three lions are visible, the fourth one on the rear is hidden from view. The Dharma wheel is present in the centre of the abacus with a bull on right and a horse on left and the outlines of other wheels on extreme right and left. The bell-shaped lotus has been done away with.

The words 'Satyameva Jayate' which literally means 'Truth Alone Triumphs' are inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script. The words are quoted from Mundaka Upanishad, the concluding part of the sacred Hindu Vedas. The national emblem is prominently featured in the official letterhead of the Government of India and also appears on the diplomatic and national Passport of the Republic of India.

The Ashoka Chakra means the 'wheel of the law'. It is derived from the Sanskrit word Dharma Chakra, which means wheel. It has 24 spokes.

The most prominent Indian Mauryan emperor, called Ashoka the Great, built the Ashoka Chakra during the 3rd century BC. The Ashoka Chakra is inscribed widely among the Lion Capital of Sarnath and the Ashoka Pillar. The Ashoka Chakra is placed in the center of the National Flag of the Republic of India. It was adopted on 22 July, 1947. It is rendered in a navy blue colour on a white background. In order to add historical 'depth' and separate the National Flag from that of the Indian National Congress(INC) Gandhian spinning wheel is replaced with the Spokes of Ashoka Chakra in the center of the Flag.

	The Chakra signifies that there is a life in 'Movement' and 'Death' in stagnation.

Ashoka Chakra can also be seen on the base of Lion Capital of Ashoka which has been adopted as the National Emblem of India. The Chakra signifies that there is a life in 'Movement' and 'Death' in stagnation. The process of the wheel stands for cycle or the self repeating process with the changing of time in our life. The horse on the Right hand symbolizing accuracy and speed. The Bull on the Left hand stands for hard work .

Wonderful Qualities of Twenty Four Spokes :
1. Love
2.Courage
3.Patience
4.Peacefulness
5.Magnanimity
6.Goodness
7.Faithfulness
8.Gentleness
9.Selflessness
10.Self-control
11.Self sacrifice
12.Truthfulness
13.Righteousness
14.Justice
15.Mercy
16.Gracefulness
17.Humility
18.Empathy
19.Sympathy
20.Spiritual knowledge
21.Moral Values
22.Spiritual Wisdom
23.The fear of God
24.Faith or Believe or Hope

Design of Rs.1 ,2 ,5 & 10 cross coins

The new coins carry the same cross as was seen  on Rs 1,2,5 & 10 bimetallic  coins. The RBI alleges that the cross shows “unity in diversity.” However, it is unable to give an explanation as to from what angle does the cross project this message.

This design has been prepared by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, with the theme of Unity in Diversity.

This cross on the coin is nothing but the Crusaders’ Cross, also called Jerusalem Cross. Here is what it looks like:

It is called Crusaders’ Cross because it was given by the Pope Urban II to the crusaders for their very first crusade that was launched from Jerusalem. The four “crosslets” on the corners along with the main cross are supposed to show the five holy wounds of Christ.

Plastic Rupee to hit the Indian market.

A welcome change from the soiled, torn Indian currency.

This is good news indeed for everybody for the Reserve Bank of India is issuing polymer or plastic notes by the end of the year. The experiment will initially commence with the humble 10 rupees note and will gradually progress to dealing with plastic 20 and 50 rupee notes.

Now India can proudly join the long list of countries like Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Malaysia and Hong Kong that use polymer notes.

We can if the experiment is 'Eureka' happily do away with the rubber banded rolls of torn, soiled and scotch taped notes that are stashed away in old zippered bags in the corner of the safes, which would never see the light of day. They are the skeletons in the cupboards of our own guilt, when we accept soiled or torn notes from the butcher or the greengrocer or even our own tenant, too diplomatic to return them, for isn't the zippered bag in the corner of the safe always ready to welcome these decrepit of a derelict age as stowaways that nobody wants or does not know what to do with.

My only doubt is this. How will the women of the Indian household deal with these plastic notes, all those women who bundle their paper notes into the smallest of rolls that they can possibly make away from their kitchen to fit into the smallest of cloth bags, from which as the draper at the nearest cloth store, they unravel note upon note as nonchalantly as you please.

Will the old woman that sells greens at my door step find a bag sufficient to fit her plastic notes?

Will my maid servant that stashes her salary into the folds of her sari be able to do it anymore? Or will I have to pay her extra to buy herself a bag for her plastic notes?

Oh, these are small wavering thoughts of the mind that would quickly pass into oblivion once I set eyes on those plastic notes at the end of the year. Maybe hereafter I can safely touch those notes, that would have passed the hands of all and sundry and not rush off to the washroom to wash my hands with soap and water.

Can these plastic notes be washed and hung to dry? If I am a miser, maybe I can preserve the polymer possessions for posterity.

POLYMER NOTES IN INDIA

RBI to introduce 100 cr Rs 10 plastic notes

New Delhi


Soiled notes may soon be a thing of past with the Reserve Bank planning to introduce Rs 10 polymer banknotes whose life span would be 4 times the normal currency notes and would be difficult to imitate.

The apex bank has initially decided to introduce 100 crore pieces of Rs 10 polymer notes, for which it has floated a global tender, a senior central bank official said.

Explaining the rationale for introduction of polymer notes, the official said, these notes would have an average life span of 5 years compared to one year for the currency notes.

Besides, the official said, these notes are cleaner than paper notes and it would be difficult to counterfeit the currency.

The polymer notes were first introduced in Australia to safeguard against counterfeiting of currency.

Besides Australia, other countries which have introduced plastic notes include New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Bermuda, Brunei and Vietnam.

1 PICE COINS - BRITISH INDIA

HERE ARE DETAILS OF HOLED COINS  WITH 1 PICE DENOMINATION ISSUED FROM VARIOUS MINTS

1. Mumbai  = point / dot

2.Calcutta (C) = no mint mark without / Mintmark

3.Lahore = L




Years in which these 1 pice coins were issued : 1943 - 1947