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The Missed Opportunity of the Vande Mataram Centenary

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The story of Vande Mataram is deeply intertwined with India’s national movement and its journey towards independence. Composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, it went on to become a powerful expression of patriotism and was eventually accorded the status of India’s National Song. In 2005, the Government of India observed the Centenary of Vande Mataram with year-long celebrations across the country. The occasion marked 100 years since Vande Mataram was officially adopted by the Indian National Congress in 1905 as a pan-Indian nationalist salutation to Mother India during the freedom movement. Despite the significance of the occasion, however, no commemorative coin was issued in 2005. For numismatists, this remains a missed opportunity. A ₹100 coin, along with a circulating lower denomination, could have created a lasting numismatic record of the centenary and recognised the important role played by Vande Mataram in India’s struggle for independence. Twenty years later, Vande Mataram f...
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Mumbai Mint to Participate in Gifts World Expo Bengaluru 2026

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The India Government Mint, Mumbai, will participate in the Gifts World Expo Bengaluru 2026, scheduled to be held from August 20 to 22, 2026, at Tripura Vasini, Palace Grounds, Bengaluru. The official Gifts World Expo website confirms Bengaluru as one of the key editions of the exhibition, which brings together businesses and exhibitors from the gifting and promotional products sector. The India Government Mint, Mumbai, a unit of the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL), will be present at Stall No. B-74. The participation provides an opportunity for visitors, collectors, gifting companies and enthusiasts to explore the Mint's commemorative coin offerings and learn more about its products and legacy. This participation by the India Government Mint, Mumbai, highlights its rich heritage in coin production and its continued contribution to the creation of commemorative coins and other numismatic products. The Gifts World Expo is a major platform for the ...
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A Collectors’ Pack for Two Hobbies: Coins and Stamps

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The collaboration between Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India Ltd (SPMCIL) and India Post offers an interesting opportunity at the intersection of numismatics and philately. For collectors, a coin and a stamp issued for the same theme provide two distinct official representations of an important personality, event or national milestone. However, despite the obvious connection between the two, coordinated joint collectors' products have remained relatively uncommon in India. In 2019, India Post introduced a presentation pack, the first of its kind in India, combining a commemorative coin with philatelic material. The pack issued to mark the 150th Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi contained a ₹150 coin, one First Day Cover (FDC) and a Miniature Sheet. The ₹150 coin was minted by India Government Mint, Mumbai, and was priced at ₹5,225. From a numismatic perspective, this was significant because many numismatists are also philatelists; the commemorative coin became part ...
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Hyderabad Mint Lists ₹100 NTR Commemorative Coin Executive Set

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The India Government Mint, Hyderabad has listed the executive set featuring the two ₹100  commemorative coins issued on Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao. The bookings commenced on August 6, 2026, and the set is being offered in limited quantities. Earlier, on August 28, 2023, the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, released the ₹100  commemorative coin  to mark the  Birth Centennial Year of Shri Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao , popularly known as NTR, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.  The following day, on August 29, 2023, the India Government Mint, Hyderabad, opened bookings for the Proof and Uncirculated (UNC) coin sets in both folder and MDF packaging. The executive set closely resembles the one released by the Hon'ble President of India, with only a few minor changes. The India Government Mint, Hyderabad, has priced the set, which contains two ₹100 commemorative coins, at ₹32,090. These executive sets contain proof coins and are among the most exclusive p...
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E-Upahaar Presidential Auction Features Kaivalyadhama Executive Set

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The third edition of the E-Upahaar Presidential Auction features the ₹100 commemorative coin issued to mark the Centenary of Kaivalyadhama . The auction commenced on August 5, 2026, and will remain open for bidding until September 4, 2026, at 5:00 PM. The E-Upahaar Presidential Auction is an initiative of the President's Secretariat that enables citizens to bid for and own distinguished gifts and mementos presented to the Hon'ble President of India by various individuals, institutions, and organizations. The proceeds from the auction are utilized for charitable and public welfare initiatives, making it a unique platform that combines heritage preservation with philanthropy. The inclusion of a modern Indian commemorative coin in this prestigious auction is expected to introduce many participants to the fascinating world of Republic India coinage. On November 1, 2023, the then Hon'ble Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Shri Shaktikanta Das, released the ₹100 commemorativ...
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Kolkata Mint Issues Make in India Special Box Set for Bookings

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The India Government Mint, Kolkata has opened bookings for a special box set issued to mark the 10th Anniversary of Make in India . The bookings commenced on August 4, 2026, and the set is being offered in limited quantities. The Make in India ₹100  coloured commemorative coin , India's first-ever coloured coin, was released by the Hon'ble Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, on September 20, 2025, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the flagship Make in India initiative. The India Government Mint, Kolkata, has introduced a limited-edition special presentation set housed in a premium jute box. The set contains ₹100 two coins and is priced at ₹22,964. However, the pricing of the set has once again drawn attention to the India Government Mint, Kolkata's pricing policy. Despite a noticeable decline in silver prices over recent weeks, the Mint has not revised the prices of its commemorative coin products. In contrast, product prices have consistently...
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The Unusual Chapters of Commemorative Coinage

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The Republic India's commemorative coinage has witnessed several unusual chapters where coins officially approved by the Government of India, and was gazette notified by the Ministry of Finance, were never made available to the collecting community or the general public. While most commemorative coins eventually reach collectors either through circulation or mint-issued proof and uncirculated sets, a handful of issues remain exceptions. These coins were either distributed only to dignitaries attending the inaugural function, issued in extremely limited quantities, or in one notable case, never released at all despite elaborate official preparations. As a result, these themes have become some of the most fascinating and least understood episodes in the history of Republic India commemorative coinage. One of the earliest examples is the Land Vital Resource ₹2 commemorative coin . Released on November 30, 1993, by the then Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Arvind Netam,...
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