I am now an old coin, and have been in circulation many, many years. I have become dulled and worn, and the Lion's head on my face is very faint, and the lettering on my back almost rubbed out, with the years of hard work I have done. But I can still remember my early youth. If you had seen me then, when I was in the Government Treasury, with my bright companions, soon after we had been issued from the Mint, you would not have recognized me as the same coin. I was shining silver, and the Lion's head and all the lettering were very beautiful and distinct. I was proud of my smart appearance.
My active life began when I was paid over the counter of a bank, along with other new rupees, to a gentleman who cashed a cheque. I went off jingling in his pocket, but I was not there long, as he gave me to a shopkeeper. The shopkeeper looked pleased when he had me in his hand, and said, ''I have not seen a new rupee for some time ", and he banged me on his counter to see if I was genuine.
I gave out such a clear ringing note, that he picked me up and threw me into a drawer with a lot of other coins.
