India - Unrealised Designs (2004 Change Over)

[paisepagal]

The Authorities update the 'look' of Indian standard circulation coinage every dozen years or so. the 2004-2012 period is very interesting in that there was a quick succession of three different themes which came about due to various controversies.

For more info, refer to this link. http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,9865.msg69036.html#msg69036
Alas there is not much information that I am aware of as to who designed the motifs and the thought process that went into each of them. So anyone who has firm info would be welcome to add to this.

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In this pic, the 50paise coin was apparently never issued and has not been reported so far



In this pic, the Rs10 and Rs5 have neither been issued not have been reported to have been so



Here, the Rs2, Re1 and 50p were never issued or reported




However, much before any of these coins, and dating back to the 2002-2003 period, there was much speculation of a set to be issued with a Geometric design. I have the paper clipping jpg somewhere I think, but if someone else knows what I'm talking about......

[asm]

Alas there is not much information that I am aware of as to who designed the motifs and the thought process that went into each of them. So anyone who has firm info would be welcome to add to this...

I believe that the NID (National Institute of Design) did the job.

Amit

[paisepagal]

I believe that the NID (National Institute of Design) did the job.

Amit

yes infact, I do recall a name somewhere on the forum of the main supervisor. I'll look for that. But in the meantime, if anyone else has more info....

[@josephjk]

I think this name came up..." Anil Kumar Sinha" as the designer of the cross coins, posted by Gerhard Schön

[Abhay]

As far as I remember, the 5 rupee coin with hand symbol was not issued as this would have resulted in the free publicity for the Indian Congress Party, the hand being their election symbol.

Regarding the + sign coins, there was a controversy that the + sign means the cross of Christianity.  More on this here:

http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,118.0.html

Abhay

[paisepagal]

I think this name came up..." Anil Kumar Sinha" as the designer of the cross coins, posted by Gerhard Schön

Bingo, Gerhad had even asked whether the cross was suppose to be deliberately off-verticle. I think someone was supposed to write to Mr Sinha... I think I'll write a formal letter to him and ask him whether he could disclose the entire process of how the design concept came about

[dheer]

The last decade for Standard coinage was interesting ... I think there were 3 major Designs created by NID
- IT & Information
- Natya Mudra
- Unity & Peace

What started out with Unit & Peace soon snow balled into Cross, so it got changed to a bit from Natya Mudra and IT & Information ...

Finally settleling to the tested design

[Figleaf]

Maybe those 3 series should be considered as two series, one of which came in political hot water, plus an effort to diminish the importance of the 50 paise. Look at the denominations missing:

cross: 50 paise
tech: 50 paise, 1 and 2 rupees
hand: 5 and 10 rupees

You could see hand and tech as one series with denominations: 50 paise (h), 1 rupee (h), 2 rupees (h), 5 rupees (t), and 10 rupees (t). The drawings make clear that the 'crats at least initially didn't think that way.

Peter

[paisepagal]

As far as I remember, the 5 rupee coin with hand symbol was not issued as this would have resulted in the free publicity for the Indian Congress Party, the hand being their election symbol.

Regarding the + sign coins, there was a controversy that the + sign means the cross of Christianity.  More on this here:

http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,118.0.html

Abhay

That's the aim of this thead, to try to figure out what actually happened, coz we are pretty much speculating right now. The Rs5 hand would have indeed brought more controversy.... but then there's a political angle in pretty much anyways, right ?