Dhanteras, Diwali 2024: Why Is Re 1 Coin Added To The ‘Shagun’ Envelope? – News18
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The shagun envelope may carry Rs 100 or even Rs 1 lakh. But it is considered incomplete without the Re 1 coin. We explain its significance
It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi resides in the Re 1 coin. (News18 Hindi)
The six-day Diwali festival begins with Dhanteras on October 29, with many people heading out to buy silver and gold coins. Coins have been in circulation for thousands of years not just as currency but also as offerings in religious events.
During the Mughal period, coins were made only from silver and gold, but now copper is the primary metal used in coin production. The form and size of coins may have changed with time, but their importance has never diminished. We explain why coins are considered auspicious and are used in religious rituals, especially the significance of the Re 1 coin given as ‘shagun’
First Used 4,000 years ago
The use of coins started for the first time in the Babylonian civilisation of Mesopotamia. Many types of metals were used to make them. But the first coin to be used widely was commissioned by King Croesus of Lydia in Turkey. The oldest coin in the world is the Lydian Lion. This 4.7-gram coin, made of silver and gold, has a lion’s face on it.
Sher Shah Suri named the ‘rupee’
It is believed that metal coins were first made in India even before the Maurya dynasty. Evidence for this has also been found in the Harappan culture. The first coin in India was called ‘Pana’, which was found in Barh Nagar near Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. It had an elephant on one side and a tiger on the other. In ancient India, the silver coin was called ‘Rupaka’, and the gold coin was called ‘Dinar’.
In 1545, Sher Shah Suri gave the currency the name ‘rupee’. Since then, the currency of India is called the rupee. Earlier, kings used to get coins made according to their choice, most of which had their images or pictures of animals and birds.
How Coins Signify history
Coins are also believed to be representative of history, having images of important historical places, kings and symbols on them. “Coins show power. They also show the time and place because the year and some place are engraved on them. It is also the face of society,” says historian Dr Amarjeev Lochan.
In British India, coins carried the images of the King and Queen, but when India overthrew the British, coins were issued independently in 1950. These included denominations like 2 anna, 10 paisa, 20 paisa, 25 paisa, 18 paise and 1 rupee. The Re 1 coin had a picture of the lion and the Ashoka Pillar.
Coin Mints in India
Coins are now made in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Noida. The coins made in every mint have their own identity. If you look at the coin carefully, you will find that some shapes are made below the year. If there is a diamond-shaped symbol below the year or the letter ‘M’ is mentioned, then the coin has been minted in Mumbai. If ‘M’ is written instead of the diamond symbol, then also it means Mumbai. There is no symbol on the coins made in Kolkata. Coins that have a star below the year or a dot in the middle of the diamond shape are minted in Hyderabad. The coins made in the Noida mint have a dot.
Maa Lakshmi on coins
On Dhanteras, coins with pictures of Maa Lakshmi are sold in most jewellery shops, but this type of coin was first issued in 1719 during Kushan rule. After this, the Gupta dynasty, Vijayanagar King Harihara II and Muhammad Ibn Sam also issued gold and silver coins.
Why is Re 1 coin considered auspicious?
The Re 1 coin has great significance in Hindu religion. A Re 1 coin is attached to every ‘shagun‘ envelope. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi resides in the Re 1 coin. The Re 1 coin is added to cash amounts of Rs 100 or Rs 1 lakh so it becomes indivisible and strengthens the relationship. Zero is not considered auspicious so adding Re 1 means the amount would not end in zero.
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