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 Bankers said Re 1 coins are rarely withdrawn from circulation, which explains their continued dominance by volume.
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“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.While Rs 5 and Rs 10 together accounted for only 23.5% of the total number of coins in circulation as of June 19, 2026, they represented 53.5% of the total value, amounting to Rs 22,209 crore. According to David Devasahayam, chairman and managing director of Radiant Cash Management Services, the Re 1 coin continues to be widely used in temples and for small-value transactions. “The coin is also used for commuting and remains prevalent, particularly in rural parts of India,” he said. Karthick Jonagadla, smallcase manager and MD & CEO of Quantace Research, said UPI has significantly reduced the need for cash in many parts of India, especially in cities and for routine payments. However, it has not eliminated the need for coins. “The Re 1 coin survives because it solves a very basic problem: how to settle the last rupee in small cash transactions. In kirana stores, buses, roadside vendors, rural markets and informal services, cash is still common and exact change still matters,” he said.
