NEPAL 4 PAISA GURKHA BULLET

May 2024

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This 1955 Nepal 4 Paisa coin was struck from brass rifle cartridges used by Gurkha troops that fought against the Japanese in Burma and Assam in World War II. Gurkha soldiers from Nepal have long been noted for their fearless military prowess and have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years. The cartridges had been stored in a government warehouse. They were rediscovered by a General who had them turned over to the mint to issue coins to honor the Gurkha's service in the war. Because they are struck from used cartridges, the coins are a bit crude. The center hole was created by the removal of the primer. They were struck only a single year, due to the limited supply of the cartridges available.
Also known as the "Nepal Bullet Paisa", these 4 Paisa coins were minted in 1955 and were made from rifle cartridges from World War II that were used by the Gurkha soldiers who fought against the Imperial Japanese in the Pacific. The coins were produced by removing the primer of the cartridge and the the bullets were then converted into the 4 Paisa coins to commemorate their courage and victory during the war.