Numismatics Collections

The Government of India has received a formal proposal to issue a ₹100 commemorative coin along with a special postage stamp to mark the Centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre —one of the most tragic and defining moments in India’s struggle for independence. Member of Rajya Sabha, Mr. Shwait Malik, confirmed the development, noting that the aim of these commemorative issues is to honour the martyrs and instill a deeper sense of patriotism among citizens during this historic milestone. He stated, “It has been proposed to introduce a commemorative coin and postage stamp to inculcate a feeling of patriotism during the centenary. Another proposal is to introduce programs like a 7-D documentary, depicting the massacre and its real-time feel through a light and sound show. Special cultural activities such as ‘Kavi Samelans’, plays, exhibitions, and seminars dedicated to Jallianwala Bagh will be conducted separately across the country.” The centenary year is expected to witness a natio...

The Union Ministry of Culture has officially announced an extensive lineup of activities to mark the 550th Birth Anniversary of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji , the revered founder of Sikhism. The celebrations, beginning this Friday, are planned on a global scale to honor the profound spiritual, social, and cultural legacy of Guru Nanak Dev. As part of these nationwide and international observances, the Government of India has decided to issue a commemorative coin along with a postage stamp. According to the Ministry of Culture, the celebrations will be conducted in a “fitting and befitting manner,” reflecting the Guru’s universal teachings of equality, compassion, and harmony. Various ministries, Sikh institutions, and Indian missions abroad are expected to participate in a coordinated effort to highlight Guru Nanak Dev’s contributions across the world. Back in September 2018, this blog mentioned the possibility of a new commemorative coin dedicated to Guru Nanak Dev, based on early informati...

There may be a significant shift underway in the Government of India’s policy on commemorative coin issuance. Over the past few months, several reports have indicated that the government is likely to discontinue commemorative coins in smaller denominations such as ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, and ₹10—denominations that traditionally entered general circulation and were accessible to the public. Recent gazette notifications announcing commemorative coins for Shri Guru Gobind Singh and the First Flag Hoisting Day appear to reinforce this trend. Both were notified exclusively in higher denominations, which are classified as non-circulating legal tender. This may signal a deliberate policy shift toward issuing commemorative coins only in higher-value denominations, designed primarily for collectors rather than for everyday use. While this approach is relatively new for India, many countries around the world have long adopted similar practices by releasing commemorative coins solely as non-circulating ...

The India Government Mint, Mumbai, has opened the bookings for the  commemorative coins  issued to mark the ' 125 years of National Archives of India ', ' Centenary of University of Mysore ' and ' Shri Jagannath Nabakalebara '.  The bookings for these commemorative coins are open for a period of three months, starting from November 17, 2018, and concluding on February 16, 2019. All the three  themes are offered in Proof and Uncirculated (UNC) Sets, packaged in a Folder or Blister pack.  The Proof Coin Sets for the National Archives of India and the Centenary of the University of Mysore are priced at ₹3,975 each, while their corresponding UNC Sets are available for ₹3,135. In contrast, the Proof Set for Shri Jagannath Nabakalebara carries a higher price of ₹4,295, with the UNC Set priced at ₹3,540.  The Nabakalebara carries ₹1000 commemorative coin which is struck in 80% silver—significantly higher in intrinsic value compared to the usual Quaternary All...

The Government of India will issue a ₹75  commemorative coin  to mark the  75 Years of First Flag Hoisting Day . The Ministry of Finance issued a gazette notification on November 13, 2018, confirming this coin. The  metal composition  of the ₹75 coin will consist of a Quaternary Alloy, comprising 50% Silver, 40% Copper, 5% Nickel, and 5% Zinc. The coin will weigh 35 grams and have a diameter of 44 mm, featuring 200 serrations along the edge. The coin's description is as follows. Obverse:  The face of the coin shall bear the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar in the center with the legend "सत्यमेव जयते" inscribed below, flanked on the left periphery with the word “भारत” in Devanagari script and on the right periphery with the word “INDIA” in English. It shall also bear the Rupee symbol “₹” and denominational value “75” in the international numerals below the Lion Capitol. Reverse:  This face of the coin shall bear the portrait of “Netaji Subhash Chandra...

In recent years, numismatists who specialize in collecting commemorative coins have found it increasingly difficult to obtain newly issued coins from general circulation. Although many of these coins were released several years ago—and some were made available through Proof and UNC sets—their presence in everyday transactions remains minimal. This scarcity has become a persistent challenge for collectors who depend on circulation finds rather than premium sets. Several underlying factors have contributed to this situation. One of the primary issues is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) facing logistical hurdles in lifting coin stocks from the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd. (SPMCIL). Due to limited storage capacity, large quantities of minted coins remain in SPMCIL vaults. Since coins are considered financial assets owned by the Ministry of Finance, both the RBI and SPMCIL are currently operating with tight cash flows. The RBI is unable to make payments to SPMCIL...