New Commemorative Issues: 2010, A Landmark Year

[kansal888]

Dear Friends

I think 2010 is going to be the landmark year in history of Indian coins. It is probably the first time that so many commemorative coins were issued in a single year. We already have seven confirmed issues:

•   125 years of Rajendra Prasad
•   75 years of RBI
•   150 years of Rabindranath Tagore
•   100 years of Mother Teresa
•   100 years of Chidambaram Subramaniam
•   Commonwealth Games
•   150 years of Kuka movement

In addition, at least 3-4 commemoratives are in pipeline:

•   150 years of Income tax
•   Tanjavour temple
•   Few more...

2010 is landmark in one another way. It is probably first time when Kolkata mint has 'officially' admitted to re-striking earlier coins. If you add the re-strikes to the kitty, the number of 2010 commemoratives can reach fifteen.

Have you noticed that almost all of our new coins are on anniversary of some dead person (Durgadass, Kamraj, Baseshwar, Narayanguru, Tilak, Bhabha, Braille, Annadurai...). Remaining coins are on anniversary of some event (200 yr of SBI, 150 yrs of Telecommunication, 150 yrs of Railways, 75 yrs of Dandi March, 60 yrs of Commonwealth, 50 yrs of ONGC, 50 yrs of Khadigram, ...). If they trend continues for few more years, we can send a petition to GOI to rename IG Mints to IA Mints (Indian Anniversary Mints)!

I have highest regards for the great sons of India who shaped destiny of modern India. However; I don't enjoy the fact that whenever I lift a coin from my collection, I find some dead man staring at me from the coin! Why can't the GOI find better themes? I sorely miss the development oriented coins issued by Mumbai Mint in 1970s and 1980s. These were issued on themes like – grow more food, small farmers, fisheries, equality development peace, food and shelter for all. They depicted themes relevant to a common man. The design as well as quality of these proof sets issued by Mumbai Mint is superb and unmatched even by today's standards. Almost 40 years have passed since these proof sets were issued, but it appears as if they were issued yesterday.

GOI is allotting most of the new commemoratives to Kolkata Mint. I feel that Mumbai Mint is much more professional in its approach and the quality of coins minted by Mumbai Mint is also better. The time taken by Mumbai for delivery of commemoratives is also less. Personally, I will like to see the mark of Mumbai Mint on many more coins.

Have you noticed that in 2010, Kolkata Mint has issued scores of commemorative coins of Rs 5 (NCLT format)? They are yet to issue a single NCLT of Rs 10 denomination. On the other hand, all Rs NCLT have come out of Mumbai Mint – Gur Ta Gaddi, Bhabha, RBI etc. I wonder if this is purely due to a coincidence or some technical issue with bi-metallics in Kolkata.

Finally, one last point. Generosity of GOI in issuing countless commemoratives in 2010 has put me in dilemma. As a collector, I am delighted to have so many new coins. However, as a breadwinner, it has added to my miseries. To add to our woes, the mints have increased the price of proof sets to Rs 2740/- and Unc sets to Rs 2400/-. If we want to have one Proof & Unc of each of above, we have to shell out Rs 65K; which is beyond the reach of an ordinary collector. Since there are so many coins in 2010 and price is so high, collectors are bound to miss some of them.  It will benefit the coin dealers who can pump lakhs of rupees to book these coins in bulk; to be sold at a later date at much higher prices. Thus an ordinary collector is in catch 22 situation.

Regards
Sanjay Kansal

[kansal888]

To add salt to injury GOI has started repeating the designs also. If you recall, the design of RBI coins in 2010 (75 years of RBI) is same as design of 1985 RBI coins (50 years of RBI). Similarly, the design of coins on commonwealth in 2009 is same as 1991 Commonwealth coins.

It shows utter lack of imagination on part of our bureaucrats. Why can't they find better themes? We can have coins on rich culture, history and traditions of India. We can have full series on monuments of India (Taj Mahal, Qatab Minar, Meenakhsi Temple, Jantar Mantar etc). We can also have coins on Indian dance forms (Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Manipuri etc). Other subjects could be rich flora and fauna of India (butterflies, orchids, tigers, elephants). The list is endless.

[H]

Weren't there rumours that the government is planning to release commemorative coins on the Tanjore temple? Did anything materialize?

PS: Even if it does materialize, I hope it doesn't come out in 2010

[Bimat]

If you have read this,it says that government has accepted the request to issue a commemorative coin...

Aditya

[repindia]

As Sanjayji pointed out, the cost of proof and mint sets would be prohibitive for the average collector, but imagine how much fun would it be for a kid (or for that matter an average adult collector) to collect these out of circulation! Add to the fact that all these different issues coming from different mints, with (hopefully) different metal compositions (OMS strikes) and (again hopefully) mules seem to be very much exciting to me! 

I for one had ignored collecting out of circulation due to various factors-- chiefly non-availability of coins and exorbitant prices charged by dealers for common coins, but if the government distribution channels are efficient then it should not be a problem.

One more thing I wanted to point out is that there are so many commemorative NCLT issues that the IG Mint seems to be going the way of the Royal Canadian Mint in issuing so many products that the collecting public eventually lost interest and now I see almost no one collecting Canadian NCLT issues. The number of commemoratives are not so great and thankfully these are still 50% silver so the price is still affordable for most of the above average collector, but I fear the IG Mint going the way of the RCM.

The designs are way too boring and almost predictable-- there is a bust of someone on it! India with it's rich numismatic history should come up with something better-- the designers should look at the coinage of the Guptas for example for some inspiration. The redesigned coinage from the NID were pathetic to say the least.

These are just a few thoughts coming to my mind.

[Coinsforever]

We already have seven confirmed issues:

•   125 years of Rajendra Prasad
•   75 years of RBI
•   150 years of Rabindranath Tagore
•   100 years of Mother Teresa
•   100 years of Chidambaram Subramaniam
•   Commonwealth Games
•   150 years of Kuka movement

In addition, at least 3-4 commemoratives are in pipeline:

•   150 years of Income tax
•   Tanjavour temple
•   Few more...

Kuka movement coins seems scrapped by GOI.


Cheers