A Milestone of One Hundred Coins with ₹100 Denomination

The Government of India has issued numerous commemorative coins to mark significant milestones, including birth centenaries of eminent personalities, the achievements of important institutions, and events of national importance. This post is dedicated to the one hundred ₹100 coins, marking an important numismatic milestone.

The first ₹100 commemorative coin was issued in 1981 under the FAO theme “Rural Women’s Advancement.” With the release of the commemorative coin marking the Birth Centenary of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on November 19, 2025, the Republic India’s coinage reached an important landmark, as it became the one hundredth ₹100 commemorative coin issued by Government of India.

Most ₹100 commemorative coins were struck in silver alloy (quaternary alloy), with more recent issues being minted in pure silver. Although all these coins are non-circulating legal tender, their intrinsic value, limited availability, and historical significance have made them highly sought after by numismatists and collectors.

These coins largely maintained a standard obverse featuring the Ashoka Lion Capital, with “सत्यमेव जयते” inscribed below, “भारत” and “INDIA” on either side, and the denomination indicated by “रूपया” and “Rupee.” Following the introduction of the rupee symbol in 2011, later issues replaced the denomination text with the “₹” symbol. Design-wise, variations can be observed across different issues, including changes in borders, minor modifications in the Ashoka Lion depiction, and differences in font styles and inscriptions.

The reverse of each coin carries a carefully designed motif relevant to the theme being commemorated. These reverses often feature portraits, institutional emblems or logos, buildings, or symbolic representations, many executed with a high level of detail that strongly appeals to collectors. Over time, subtle variations in finish, relief, and edge details have also emerged, adding depth and scope for detailed numismatic study.

The issuance of one hundred distinct ₹100 commemorative coins reflects the vast cultural, scientific, administrative, and social landscape of modern India. From honouring iconic leaders and reformers to recognising institutions that have contributed significantly to governance, education, and national development, these coins collectively narrate the evolving story of the nation. They also highlight the role of the India Government Mints in sustaining a continuous and diverse commemorative coinage programme.

For collectors, completing a full set of one hundred ₹100 commemorative coins is both a challenging and rewarding pursuit. Limited availability and the absence of officially published mintage figures for many issues have added an element of rarity and research-driven collecting. Consequently, these coins occupy a special and respected place in contemporary Indian numismatics. You may also check other denominations that have been counted and indexed.