5 Paisa - Birendra Bir Bikram

Nepal's shift to aluminium for small-denomination coinage in the early 1970s was driven by the chronic problem of copper-alloy paisa being hoarded or melted whenever metal values crept above face value — a persistent issue across South Asia during that decade. The aluminium issues were essentially demonetization insurance.

Birendra ascended to the throne in January 1972 following the death of Mahendra, meaning pieces dated to 1971 predate his formal coronation, which did not occur until 1975.