New Commemorative Issue: 2006: Mahatma Basveshwara

[Figleaf]

Pabitra Saha reports:

India has released Rupees 5 coin in memory of Mahatma Basveshwara. It may be noted that actual release took place on 23rd June 2006. At the time of release, coin was issued in copper-nickel with weight of 9 grams but since no copper-nickel Rs. 5 was issued for circulation, the circulation coins are now being released with Ferritic stainless steel with 6 grams weight.

[asm]

Besides this coin, there are other current issue commorative issues which are being now issued in ferratic Stainless Steel after the initial lot was struck in Cu-Ni.

[BC Numismatics]

Amit,
  I'd be interested in getting some of these.It was last year since I last picked up some of the older commemorative 1 Rupee & 2 Rupees & added them into my collection.

Aidan.

[asm]

Aiden, I have sent you a PM. Please check. Amit

[shariqkhan]

You can check similar coins including this issue at http://coinsindia.info
I had tired to provide more details about the personalities appeared on the coin.

Thanks

[BC Numismatics]

Shariq,
  There's an Indian coin forum link up in the Useful Links section that I have posted up there.

Who knows,there may be someone on there who knows about this new coin.

Aidan.

[Bimat]

Hi,
I have this commemorative of Cu-Ni variety but not the Ferric Stainless steel.I think the Cu-Ni variety was released into circulation.I have got 3 such coins,but haven't found this one again in last 1 year.May be it was withdrawn from circulation after some time.
Regards,
Aditya.

[asm]

I recently picked up both veraties from a dealer in Bangalore. Both the coins were quite expensive. I paid Rs 20 for the Cu-Ni and Rs 25 for the Feratic Stainless Steel.

[BC Numismatics]

I recently picked up both veraties from a dealer in Bangalore. Both the coins were quite expencive. I paid Rs 20 for the Cu-Ni and Rs 25 for the Feratic Stainless Steel.

Amit,
  I suppose that was for Unc. graded coins was it? I'm surprised that there hasn't been many coin dealers from outside India rushing in to buy up bulk lots of Indian commemorative coins to put onto the open market.

Aidan.

[asm]

Aidan, I believe only links to people in the RBI or mints could get you the initial lot of coins. Once in the hands of dealers, there is not much of an upside left for the short term. The coins were not the original unc coins but coins supposed to be from regular production which are cornered by dealers and are in almost unc condition as they have not been in circulation.
BTW, I will upload later today images of the Rs 5 ONGC issue and KHADI AND VILLAGE INDUSTRIES issue as well as the 50 Paisa Unity issue which I picked up yesterday. I  paid through my nose - Rs 50 for the ONGC issue and Rs 100 for the KVIC issue. Even for the 50 paisa coin issued for regular circulation, i pais Rs 50 for 10 coins. All these coins are in Ferratic Stainless Steel.
Amit

[Coinsforever]

Yesterday at Indipex 2011 , I picked up UNC Cu -Ni Rs.5 coin of Mahatma Basveshwara.


Here is image.


Cheers

[Figleaf]

Congratulations, Ajay. Very nice coin, good strike. I get the impression that the dies were prepared for the copper-nickel variety, then used without change or different press settings for the steel variety. Your collection will give an excellent overview of the transition from copper-nickel to steel.

Peter

[Bimat]

I get the impression that the dies were prepared for the copper-nickel variety, then used without change or different press settings for the steel variety.

Indeed so. When it was decided that Cu-Ni coins will be melted down, the dies used for Cu-Ni coins were used for the first few batches of FSS coins, and they show a thick 5 in the denomination. (A Rarer variety). Later, new dies for FSS were made and millions of FSS coins were struck, which show a thin 5. (Common variety).

In my opinion, Mahatma Basaweshwara is more difficult to find in FSS than in Cu-Ni (just because I got 4 or 5 of them in change, but haven't got a single FSS variety in change!)

Aditya

[H]

The FSS variety is relatively common in my corner of the country

[nomadbird]

Indeed so. When it was decided that Cu-Ni coins will be melted down, the dies used for Cu-Ni coins were used for the first few batches of FSS coins, and they show a thick 5 in the denomination. (A Rarer variety). Later, new dies for FSS were made and millions of FSS coins were struck, which show a thin 5. (Common variety).

In my opinion, Mahatma Basaweshwara is more difficult to find in FSS than in Cu-Ni (just because I got 4 or 5 of them in change, but haven't got a single FSS variety in change!)

Aditya

Hey Aditya

I got 5 to 6 FSS Basaveshwara coins.... i thot the other way... atleast in my street all the shops has this in more number of circulation. If you need this one, please let me know i can send you one.... PM Me