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When Technology Affects the Art of Coin Portraits of Legendary Figures

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The commemorative coins featuring portraits hold a special place in numismatics for preserving the likeness and personality of those commemorated. Unlike coins featuring monuments or symbols, a portrait requires careful artistic interpretation to ensure that the personality remains immediately recognisable. The recent commemorative coins have, however, raised concerns among collectors about the quality of portrait engraving. The issue can be noticed in the commemorative coin portraits issued to mark the Birth Centenary of Dr. M. S. Subbulakshmi in 2017, the Birth Centenary of Mohammed Rafi in 2025 and the Mahanayak Uttam Kumar Centenary Celebrations in 2026. The personalities commemorated were legendary figures with highly recognisable faces, yet the excessive marking of the teeth in their portraits has, in the opinion of collectors, affected their natural appearance and likeness. The problem is not that a smiling portrait should never show teeth, but rather how the teeth are inte...
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Mumbai Mint Starts Bookings for Mahanayak Uttam Kumar Coin Sets

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The India Government Mint, Mumbai, has opened the bookings for the ₹100 commemorative coin issued to mark the Centenary Celebration of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar . The bookings are open from September 7, 2026, and it is subject to limited availability. Earlier, on September 6, 2026, the Hon’ble Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs, Smt. Purnima Chakraborty, unveiled the ₹100 coin at Shishir Mancha, Kolkata. The ceremony was attended by prominent personalities from the Bengali film industry and cultural sphere, including Smt. Rupa Ganguly, Shri Biswajit Chattopadhyay, Shri Prosenjit Chattopadhyay, Padma Shri Saroj Mandal and others. The ₹100 commemorative coin is currently available in a Proof Set in Booklet packaging, priced at ₹15,743. It is to be noted that the above pricing is the initial issue price and is subject to revision. However, owing to significant fluctuations in silver prices, the India Government Mint, Mumbai, may revise the prices at a later stage...
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Republic India Commemorative Coins: Denominations Issued Only Once

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Republic India commemorative coins have witnessed a remarkable evolution in denominations since the introduction of the country's first commemorative coin in 1964. From the early issues carrying conventional denominations to the introduction of several unusual face values in recent years, Indian commemorative coinage has developed into a fascinating area of numismatics for collectors. While denominations such as ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹75, ₹100, ₹125 and ₹150 have been used repeatedly for different commemorative themes, several denominations have appeared only once so far. These unique one-time denominations form a particularly interesting area of Republic India numismatics and offer a different perspective for collectors who collect commemorative coins denomination-wise . During the earlier years of Republic India’s commemorative coinage , the choice of denominations was relatively limited. Until 2010, ₹50 and ₹100 were the most commonly used denominations for commemorating important oc...
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New Commemorative Coin: Union Public Service Commission

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The Government of India will issue a ₹100  commemorative coin  to celebrate the Centenary Year of Union Public Service Commission  (UPSC) . The Ministry of Finance issued a gazette notification on September 8, 2026, confirming this coin. The Union Public Service Commission is India’s premier constitutional body responsible for selecting candidates for the country’s top civil services. Established in 1926 and later constitutionalised after independence, it ensures a fair, transparent and merit-based recruitment process for key administrative, police, foreign and other central services. Known for its rigorous examinations and high standards, the UPSC plays a crucial role in strengthening governance by choosing individuals capable of serving the nation with integrity, competence and commitment. The  metal composition  of the ₹100 coin will consist of Pure Silver (99.9%). The coin will weigh 40 grams and have a diameter of 44 mm, featuring 200 serrations along the e...
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Hyderabad Mint Commences Bookings for SRCC Coin Sets

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The India Government Mint, Hyderabad, has commenced the bookings for the ₹100 commemorative coin issued to mark  Centenary Year of Shri Ram College of Commerce . The bookings are open from September 7, 2026, and it is subject to limited availability. Earlier, on September 5, 2026, the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, released the ₹100 commemorative coin to mark the occasion, during his visit to the college campus in New Delhi on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. The release ceremony was attended by the Union Minister of Education, Shri Pralhad Joshi; Shri Ajay S. Shriram, Chairman, SRCC Governing Body; Prof. Simrit Kaur, Principal, SRCC; Shri Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, India TV; and other distinguished guests. The ₹100 coin has currently been issued in a Proof Set with Booklet and Cardboard (Kappa) box packaging. The ₹100 coin in the Proof Set with the Booklet package is priced at ₹8,030, while the Proof Set with the Cardboard (Kappa) Box is priced at ₹8,...
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Smt. Purnima Chakraborty Unveils ₹100 Coin on Mahanayak Uttam Kumar

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The Hon’ble Minister of State for Information and Cultural Affairs of West Bengal, Smt. Purnima Chakraborty, unveiled the ₹100 commemorative coin to mark the Centenary Celebration of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar on September 6, 2026, at Shishir Mancha, Kolkata. The ceremony was attended by prominent personalities from the Bengali film industry and cultural sphere, including Smt. Rupa Ganguly, Shri Biswajit Chattopadhyay, Shri Prosenjit Chattopadhyay, Padma Shri Saroj Mandal and others. The gathering reflected the deep respect and affection that Uttam Kumar continues to command across generations. Addressing the gathering, Smt. Purnima Chakraborty said, “This is an emotional moment as we gather for the closing ceremony of Uttam Kumar's centenary celebrations. Uttam Kumar was not just an actor—he was, and will always remain, an eternal emotion and a symbol of love in the hearts of Bengalis. May the silver coin issued to commemorate his centenary serve as a precious symbol of his immortal ...
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PM Modi Releases ₹100 Coin on Shri Ram College of Commerce

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The Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, released the ₹100  commemorative coin  to mark the Centenary Year of Shri Ram College of Commerce  (SRCC), University of Delhi, today, on September 5, 2026, during his participation at the college campus in New Delhi, coinciding with Teachers' Day. The release ceremony was attended by the Union Minister of Education, Shri Pralhad Joshi; Shri Ajay S. Shriram, Chairman, SRCC Governing Body; Prof. Simrit Kaur, Principal, SRCC; Shri Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, India TV; and other distinguished guests. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister described the centenary as a historic occasion for both Shri Ram College of Commerce and India’s education sector. Paying tribute to founder Sir Shri Ram, Shri Modi said the institution’s 100-year journey had become an “ocean of achievements and inspirations,” evolving from its modest beginnings in Daryaganj into a renowned centre of learning that has shaped generations. ...
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