Recently, counterfeit coins have appeared on the market, alongside reports of fake banknotes. Recently, the police in Saharanpur uncovered the activities of an inter-state gang that was involved in manufacturing counterfeit 20-rupee coins. All materials necessary for coin production were also seized from these individuals.
As counterfeit coins have started appearing on the market, identifying genuine coins has become a complex task. Although methods for recognizing fake currency are known, we will now look at the signs that allow one to determine the authenticity of a coin.
According to the police, the suspects first prepared the basis of the coin by cutting plates made of iron and zinc. After this, a small inner part of the coin was created, onto which a brass coating was applied. Then, using dies and machines, the design and symbols were formed on the coin. Special dies were found that allowed for the creation of completely identical coins.
Now, about how to check the authenticity of a coin. We will tell you about the secret signs of the coin that indicate its authenticity.
Firstly, it should be noted that the 20-rupee coin is not round. Instead, it has 12 sides. If you hold a 20-rupee coin, first check its shape. In the new design of Indian coins, the 20-rupee coin differs from other standard round coins by being a 12-sided polygon. This allows people with visual impairments to determine the coin's authenticity by touch.
Furthermore, an important feature of the 20-rupee coin is the absence of stripes on the edge. The government creates new coin designs, some of which have stripes, and some do not. For example, the 1-rupee coin does not have stripes, while the 2 and 10-rupee coins do. However, the 5-rupee and 20-rupee coins do not have such stripes.
The coin consists of two parts: a ring and a core. The 20-rupee coin ring is made of nickel-silver containing about 65% copper, 15% zinc, and 20% nickel. As for the central part (core), it is made of nickel and brass containing approximately 75% copper, 20% zinc, and 5% nickel.
According to state standards, the weight of the 20-rupee coin is 8.54 grams. Another interesting aspect of the new series of coins is that the government chose the theme of agriculture. The reverse side of the coin features a design related to grain crops.