Currencies/Indian anna

Introduction

The Indian Anna was a traditional subunit of the Indian rupee, used during British India and the early years after independence. Each anna represented 1/16 of a rupee and played a vital role in India’s pre-decimal monetary system before its withdrawal in the mid-20th century.

History

The anna system was introduced under British colonial administration and remained in circulation for over a century. The unit originated from earlier Mughal and regional coinage systems, which used fractional silver and copper coins for trade and taxation. During the British period, standardized anna coins were minted under successive monarchs, including Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V, and George VI. Following India’s independence in 1947, the anna remained in use until 1 April 1957, when the country adopted the decimal system, replacing annas, pice, and pies with paise (1 rupee = 100 paise).

Coins

Anna coins were produced in copper, nickel, and cupro-nickel alloys, depending on the era. They were widely circulated across India and often featured:

The reigning British monarch’s portrait on the obverse.

The denomination and date on the reverse, typically marked in both English and regional languages. The coin’s simplicity and consistent design made it one of the most familiar forms of currency to the Indian population before decimalisation.

Banknotes

Although the anna itself was not directly issued as a separate note, it featured prominently in British Indian and early Reserve Bank of India banknotes, where rupee values were expressed in annas, pice, and pies. For example, denominations such as “Rupees 1-8-0” (1 rupee 8 annas) appeared on printed notes until the 1940s. These notes highlighted the non-decimal accounting system, where values were calculated using combinations of annas, an integral part of India’s currency structure prior to reform.

Currency

Before decimalisation:

1 Rupee = 16 Annas

1 Anna = 4 Pice = 12 Pies This structure formed the backbone of trade and government accounting throughout colonial India, influencing regional economies and market pricing for generations.

Legacy

The abolition of the anna in 1957 marked a significant modernization of India’s currency system. Yet, the term "anna" survived colloquially for decades, especially among older generations, as a reference to small values or fractions. The anna period remains a defining chapter in Indian monetary history, bridging the colonial economy with the modern decimal era.