MoF issues Gazette Notification for Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi Coin

The Government of India will issue a commemorative coin of ₹100 to mark the Birth Centenary of Kalaignar Dr. M. Karunanidhi. The Ministry of Finance issued the gazette notification on July 12, 2024, confirming the coin.

Muthuvel Karunanidhi (3 June 1924 – 7 August 2018) was a prominent Indian writer and politician who served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for nearly two decades across five terms between 1969 and 2011. Known as "Kalaignar" (Artist) and "Mutthamizh Arignar" (Tamil Scholar) for his contributions to Tamil literature, he holds the record for the longest tenure as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, serving 6,863 days. A steadfast leader of the Dravidian movement, he presided over the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party ten times and never lost an election to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, winning 13 consecutive times since 1957.

The metal composition of the ₹100 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 “100” in the international numerals below the Lion Capitol.

Reverse: This face of the coin shall bear the portrait of "Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi" in the center of the coin, with his signature below the image. On the left periphery of the coin, the inscription "कलैञर मु.करुणानिधि की जन्म शताब्दी" shall be written in Devanagari script, and the inscription "Birth Centenary of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi" in English shall be depicted on the right periphery of the coin. The year “1924-2024” in international numerals shall be written on the bottom periphery of the coin.

This commemorative coin marks the second coin featuring a signature of the portrait. Incidentally, the first coin was issued on the 'Birth Centenary of Perarignar Anna,' who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and was from a Dravidian party. That coin was released in 2009 by the then Chief Minister, Kalaignar Dr. M. Karunanidhi.

Earlier in October 2023, it was reported that the Ministry of Finance had granted approval for the Government of Tamil Nadu's request to issue a commemorative coin. This news was posted on this blog. The Birth Centenary of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi occurred on June 3, 2024. However, due to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, there has been a delay in the issuance of the coin.