World of Coins

Dear Friends

Government is planning to celebrate 150th Birth Anniversary of Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi on a grand scale.

I am expecting new coins on this occasion.

Regards
Sanjay Kansal

Not again  ;D

Tired of Gandhi/Nehru coins

Almost final.
Theme logo to appear on the coin.

Let's wait and see the design

Logo is still under revision and the variations are being explored.

Does anyone know when these will be issued? I think the celebrations have started this year but unsure if coins will be released this or in Oct 2019. Maybe @kansal888, @Pabitra knows. Guys please let us know if there is any news of the same. I have stopped buying proof and mint sets due to the glut in these and also due to the fact that the designs were becoming very two dimensional and boring. I might make an exception for this one and hope the design is good enough.

Nothing known yet.
This platform will be among the first to break the news.
If 20 Rupees circulation coin gets approved first then the commem coin might be of that denomination.
In other words, worth collecting even if you are not a collector.

May be 30 January 2019

Just before general elections....

Just a guess

Edited By Odishatv Bureau  Published By PTI  On Aug 30, 2019 - 9:18 PM

New Delhi: The government plans to hold a "grand function" at Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, during which a commemorative coin and postage stamps will be released.

The programme on October 2 is one of the several events planned to mark the occasion, a statement issued by the government on Friday said.

Also, plans are afoot to unveil Gandhi busts in 54 countries.

The statement said a meeting of the Executive Committee for commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of the father of the nation was held here on Friday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, were present in the meeting. Also, eight eminent Gandhians, who are members of the committee, were also in attendance.

Following the prime minister's call in his monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat' to recycle accumulated plastic waste by Diwali this year, awareness generation across 4,000 towns and 6 lakh villages will be held from October 1 and preparations will be made for collection and disposal of plastic waste.

Besides the programme at Ahmedabad, a nation-wide 'shramdaan' event to collect plastic waste in all gram panchayats, urban local bodies, schools, railways and on highways will be organised on October 2, the statement said.

Source: Odisha TV (https://odishatv.in/nation/mahatma-gandhis-150th-birth-anniv-govt-plans-grand-function-at-sabarmati-riverfront-on-oct-2-397468)

I much appreciate the activities highlighted in the article, even those not about coins ;). Putting up a memorial to Gandhi in 54 countries underlines the global and enduring importance of his thoughts. The clean-up action is just the kind of popular, peaceful activity with a grand purpose Gandhi would have recognised and approved of. India's struggle is no longer on statehood, it is on providing a decent life for all Indians. Reducing pollution is part of that.

Peter

Dear friends

Commemorative coins will be issued on 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Waterfront Ahmedabad on 2nd  October 2019.

The coin will depict the logo

Regards
Sanjay

Just realised that there are two threads on same subject. Request Dheer to, pls merge them

Merged. Thanks for pointing out.

Quote from: kansal888 on September 01, 2019, 04:28:50 PM
The coin will depict the logo

I have all the reasons to doubt if the legend accompanying the logo will retain English, even if  this is the selected logo.

Quote from: kansal888 on September 01, 2019, 04:28:50 PM
Dear friends

Commemorative coins will be issued on 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Waterfront Ahmedabad on 2nd  October 2019.

The coin will depict the logo

Regards
Sanjay

I was expecting nice engraving and a good portrait of Mahatma Gandhi. Very unimaginative and a disappointment. The Nehru 125th anniversary coins were similarly disappointing too. I guess the Gandhi centenary, Nehru 1964 and centenary in 1989 were of a much higher quality. I think they just design the coins on a computer taking an image as a reference and then with minimal engraving create the image. There is no original artwork/engraving done and we can see the result. Is this due to the metal of the coinage that we need such low relief bad designs? We are paying a lot for the mint commemorative sets and should get better designs.

The metal of coinage has nothing to do with this.
The metal for this will be quaternary alloy which has been in use for quite some time.
Circulation Commem coins in steel, Nickel Brass or bimetal have been stopped as a matter of policy.
It is basically laziness, unwillingness to hold a competition, tendency to criticise every design by people etc. which has led to this stage.

Love the idea, not so much the design.

Dale

Quote from: repindia on September 07, 2019, 06:21:32 PM
I was expecting nice engraving and a good portrait of Mahatma Gandhi. Very unimaginative and a disappointment.

Dear Rep India

I totally agree with you. Our mints are dishing out very un-imaginative  and boring designs for new commemorative coins. There is total lack of creativity.

Regards

Quote from: Pabitra on September 02, 2019, 06:51:50 PM
I have all the reasons to doubt if the legend accompanying the logo will retain English, even if  this is the selected logo.

On many occasions in past, Indian mints have modified the standard logo of an event to make it fit for coins. I will give one example of International Day of Yoga.

(a) On logo, International Day of Yoga is written only in English; whereas on coins, it is bilingual.

(b) On logo, International Day of Yoga is written at the top of humanoid figure near its hands; whereas on coins, it is at top right periphery.

(c) On logo, the date 21 June is at top; whereas on coins, the date is at bottom.

(d) On logo, Yoga for Harmony and Peace is written at bottom near feet of humanoid; whereas on coins its on right side.

(e) On logo, Yoga for Harmony and peace is written only in English whereas on coins, it is bilingual.

I am sure that if required, mints can very well tweak the logo to make it bilingual while retaining the main characteristics and flavor of the original logo.

Regards

Sanjay Kansal

PS: Apart from International Day of Yoga, there are couple of more examples. I will post them whenever I get time

Post office has started booking the set of stamp and coin whereas there is no gazette notification.

Is this the design?

Yes, the above design is broadly correct. The Obverse side -which shows the Lion Emblem of Kolkata Mint instead of Mumbai Mint.

India post will issue a presentation pack of coins and stamps for the first time.

Quote from: kansal888 on October 01, 2019, 10:56:01 AM
Yes, the above design is broadly correct. Except the Obverse side -which shows the Lion Emblem of Kolkata Mint instead of Mumbai Mint.

India post will issue a presentation pack of coins and stamps for the first time.

The price is Rs 5225 and can be ordered now at India Post website.

Few years back NIUE ISLANDS issued five coins on Gandhi

Nice designs... When can we see such wonderful designs and messages on Indian Coins???

Uploading the coin release pics.

Pic.looks bad and shoddy. I hope actual coin is better

Pics of coin
Booking open at Mumbai Mint.
Coins are available in small wooden boxes
5665 for proof
5305 for unc

Obverse side

And it's first time.. the coin full silver 999 purity and not the usual quaternary alloy

999 fineness of Silver is not a recommended practice.
The silver is too malleable for such type of coinage.

Indian NCLT coins upto 1981 were 92.5 percent silver
After that they have been quarternary alloy but that too has 50 percent silver.
1000 Rupees coins ( both of them) had 80 percent silver.

I think, to ensure higher percentage, the mint will be sacrificing quality of strike.
The NCLT business of recent times has become an indicator of general greed which seems to have engulfed the nation in recent times

Dear Pabitra ji

999 Silver should be OK for NCLTs, since unlike the circulation coins which are handled in a rough manner, NCLTs are handled by collectors with so much  love and care. Since silver is soft, Mumbai mint should be able to get good strike.

My only worry with 999 silver coin is it's proper packing. If the mint does not seals it properly, it will start turning black. It should be hermetically sealed.

Regards
Sanjay Kansal

Had 999 Silver been an acceptable practice then how come it took govt. of India 70 years to issue one such coin?

Do the mints have technology to hermetically seal the coins or get it done from lowest bidder?

Quote from: Pabitra on October 04, 2019, 04:11:15 AM
Had 999 Silver been an acceptable practice them how come it took govt. of India 70 years to issue one such coin?

Do the mints have technology to hermetically seal the coins or get it done from lowest bidder?

Most of the countries issuing Proof Coins issue then in 999 Silver only. Examples are USA Liberty Dollar, Chinese Silver Panda, Australian Silver Kookaburra.. They come in the category of Bullion Coins, but still they carry a denomination. I have handled many such coins, and they are not all that malleable or soft, as you may think them to be.

And most of these coins already come in AIRTITE Coin holders. These holders are made of Acrylic and are easily available commercially.

Direct Fit Holders (https://www.airtiteholders.com/store/c7/Direct_Fit_Holders.html)

Abhay

Hi,

I'm not able to find a gazette notification for these coins. Does anyone know if the notification has been issued or not?

Thanks.

Issued on 22nd August 2019

Quote from: Pabitra on October 04, 2019, 04:11:15 AM
Had 999 Silver been an acceptable practice then how come it took govt. of India 70 years to issue one such coin?

The reason why it took Indian mints 70 years to issue a coin in .999 silver could be to reduce the cost and to increase the hardness. Mints might have added 50% base metals to make the coins more affordable.

I am apprehensive that Mumbai mint might not be able to seal the coins hermetically. So the silver may turn black / patina in few decades.

Quote from: Abhay on October 04, 2019, 11:30:35 AM
they are not all that malleable or soft, as you may think them to be.

Indeed, pure silver is not like toothpaste or butter, but it is still softer than other metals. The most basic risk is falling. A copper-nickel coin falling of a desk or table on a stone floor may survive intact, but a silver coin will have a mark on the edge. The principal risk is a bad coin tray, though. A silver coin may be worn, just by sitting in a coin tray and shifting every time someone handles the coin tray.

Quote from: Abhay on October 04, 2019, 11:30:35 AM
And most of these coins already come in AIRTITE Coin holders. These holders are made of Acrylic and are easily available commercially.

While that is a perfectly good way to store and protect a silver coin, especially in a climate that knows monsoons, you should make sure the packaging has an intact rubber ring. Also, those who want packaged coins will not want to take it out of the packaging. The best solution I can think of is keeping it in a well-closing cookie tin with a moisture eater (they come in the packaging of electrical equipment) in a dry, preferably heated room and inspecting it regularly.

Peter

Dear Friends

This time there are three different options for buying the 999silver coins on 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi:

A) Regular Blister Pack: Can be booked from website of SPMCIL. The price is Rs 4,225 for Unc and Rs 4,585 for Proof coin.

B) India Post Pack: It has a Proof coin + One First Day Cover having six stamps x Rs 25 + One Miniature Sheet of Rs 150 + One booklet issued by Ministry of culture. The price is Rs 5,225. This can be booked at website of epostoffice.gov.in. You need to register first.

C) Wooden Box: Mumbai mint has also issued Gandhi coins in wooden boxes. I have not seen the boxes but I understand that they could be artistic with metal and laser engraving. Wooden boxes can be booked from website of  SPMCIL. Price is Rs 5,305 for Unc and Rs 5,665 for proof.

Regards
Sanjay Kansal

Unless chemically treated or heavily painted or lacquered, wood will be infiltrated with moisture in the monsoon season. In due time, the box would close badly or not at all. If the coin inside is entombed in plastic, it will not be affected, but if it is exposed to air, problems will develop. If it is unpackaged in the box, a layer of Ren wax (http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php/topic,130.msg239.html#msg239) would be a wise precaution.

Peter

Hello,

could someone tell me why 2 options with different pricess for booking available on spmcil website?

Quote from: jnite on October 08, 2019, 05:16:39 PM
Hello,

could someone tell me why 2 options with different pricess for booking available on spmcil website?

Please go through kansal ji's reply

Quote from: kansal888 on October 07, 2019, 07:16:35 PM
Dear Friends

This time there are three different options for buying the 999silver coins on 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi:

A) Regular Blister Pack: Can be booked from website of SPMCIL. The price is Rs 4,225 for Unc and Rs 4,585 for Proof coin.

B) India Post Pack: It has a Proof coin + One First Day Cover having six stamps x Rs 25 + One Miniature Sheet of Rs 150 + One booklet issued by Ministry of culture. The price is Rs 5,225. This can be booked at website of epostoffice.gov.in. You need to register first.

C) Wooden Box: Mumbai mint has also issued Gandhi coins in wooden boxes. I have not seen the boxes but I understand that they could be artistic with metal and laser engraving. Wooden boxes can be booked from website of  SPMCIL. Price is Rs 5,305 for Unc and Rs 5,665 for proof.

Regards
Sanjay Kansal

The UK government has decided to issue a commemorative coin to mark the 150th birthday anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, said Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid.

The Pakistani-origin British finance minister said he had asked the UK's Royal Mint to work on the coin so that the world never forgot what Gandhi taught it.

He announced this on Thursday at the annual GG2 ceremony in London to celebrate the British Asian success.

"Tonight's awards celebrate the 150th birthday of Gandhi – a fitting time to announce that I've asked the Royal Mint of the UK to propose a new commemorative coin in his honour. We should never forget what Gandhi taught the world," said Javid.

https://www.dtnext.in/News/National/2019/10/11073153/1191448/UK-to-issue-coin-in-honour-of-Mahatma-Gandhi.vpf

I received my Gandhi proof coin in Philatelic packing. It is the first official Numismatic + Philatelic collaboration between India Post and Mints.

Rev side

Dispatch begun.