Pakistan early rupee coinage
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
from 1948
Issuing entity
PakistanPakistan early rupee coinage comprises the initial coin series issued by Pakistan beginning in 1948 following the partition of British India. These issues served to replace British Indian coins in general circulation, maintaining the established division of one rupee into 16 annas, with each anna equalling 4 pice or 12 pie.
Introduced in denominations of 1 pice, 1/2, 1, and 2 annas, alongside 1/4, 1/2, and 1 rupee, the series was expanded in 1951 with the addition of the 1 pie coin. The coins feature a distinctive star and crescent motif on the obverse and present denomination details through bilingual English and Urdu legends on the reverse.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 2
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Following partition in August 1947, the Pakistan (Monetary System and Reserve Bank) Order, 1947 designated the Reserve Bank of India as the transitional monetary authority, allowing older currency to remain in circulation. While an early 1948 agreement moved the conclusion of the Reserve Bank's authority to 30 June 1948, Pakistan introduced its own replacement coinage that same year. Full control over coin and note issuance was officially transferred to the Government of Pakistan and the State Bank of Pakistan in 1949, and these non-decimal coins circulated until decimalisation took place in 1961.
Design
- Obverse
- Star and crescent
- Reverse
- Denomination in English and Urdu
Identification
- Script
- Bilingual English and Urdu legends
- Recognition pointers (from background sources)
- Obverse features a star and crescent design. Reverse bears bilingual denomination legends in both English and Urdu scripts. Denominated in pre-decimal units: 1 pie, 1 pice, 1/2, 1, or 2 annas, and 1/4, 1/2, or 1 rupee.
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Research required
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Denomination series, metals and dates to be transcribed from a verified catalogue
- Striking mints to be confirmed
- Catalogue numbers require transcription