Humble Re 1 retains coining glory despite rise of digital payments
NEW DELHI: It will buy you a candy but not much else. The last time you probably searched for it may have been to settle a toss in a cricket match. Yet, despite a steady drop in its value, Re 1 remains the most widely circulated coin in the country, aided by the continued prevalence of odd-number pricing.
In fact, it has dominated coin circulation for more than a decade. Data released by RBI in its Annual Report 2025-26 shows there were nearly 5,499 crore Re 1 coins in circulation as of March 2026. The denomination accounted for 38.4% of the total number of coins in circulation, which include 50 paise, Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10 and Rs 20.
Its share stood at 39.3% in March 2025. The trend is not new. RBI data show that the Re 1 coin accounted for about 42% of all coins in circulation at the end of FY14, FY15 and FY16. In FY16, around 4,500 crore Re 1 coins were in circulation. Bankers said Re 1 coins are rarely withdrawn from circulation, which explains their continued dominance by volume.
“If one looks at the value of coins in circulation over time, the share of Re 1 has declined. Rs 5 and Rs 10 coins now account for a larger share,” a bank official said.
In fact, it has dominated coin circulation for more than a decade. Data released by RBI in its Annual Report 2025-26 shows there were nearly 5,499 crore Re 1 coins in circulation as of March 2026. The denomination accounted for 38.4% of the total number of coins in circulation, which include 50 paise, Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10 and Rs 20.
Its share stood at 39.3% in March 2025. The trend is not new. RBI data show that the Re 1 coin accounted for about 42% of all coins in circulation at the end of FY14, FY15 and FY16. In FY16, around 4,500 crore Re 1 coins were in circulation. Bankers said Re 1 coins are rarely withdrawn from circulation, which explains their continued dominance by volume.
“If one looks at the value of coins in circulation over time, the share of Re 1 has declined. Rs 5 and Rs 10 coins now account for a larger share,” a bank official said.
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