Paisa

Paisa (also called pice, pesa, poysha, poisha, and baisa) is a small unit of money. The word means money or wealth. In India, Nepal, and Pakistan, one paisa is 1/100 of a rupee. In Bangladesh, one poysha is 1/100 of a Bangladeshi taka. One baisa in Oman equals 1/1000 of an Omani rial.

Etymology

The word paisa originates from the Sanskrit word padāṁśa. Padāṁśa means quarter part and unit. The pesa was used in colonial Kenya.

History

Chaulukya coins were known as Gadhaiya Paise. In India and Pakistan the paisa or pice was equal to 3 pies or 1/64 of a rupee until the 1950's. When these countries switched to a decimal system, the paisa became 1/100 of a rupee.

Terminology

In languages like Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, and Nepali, the word paisa means money. In East Africa, the word pesa for money is still used. An example is Kenya’s M-Pesa, which means "mobile pesa" or "mobile money."

Usage
 Poysha =  of a Bangladeshi taka (no longer in circulation)
 Paisa =  of an Indian rupee  (only 50 paisa coins are de facto valid but no longer in circulation)
 Paisa =  of a Nepalese rupee  (no longer in circulation)
 Baisa =  of an Omani rial
 Paisa =  of a Pakistani rupee (Officially demonetized from 1 October 2014)

Gallery

Related pages
Bangladeshi taka
Indian paisa

References

Category:Coins
Category:Economy of Bangladesh
Category:Economy of India
Category:Nepal
Category:Economy of Pakistan