2011 - 500 years of Sri Krishnadevaraya | Unreleased Commemorative Coin

There was an intent by the Karnataka Government to issue coins (possibly Rs 500 and Rs 5 or Rs 10) and postage stamps to commemorate the 500 years of Sri Krishnadevaraya. However, the then Union Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, turned down the state government's request.

News from The New Indian Express dated 26-January-2010:

The stage is set to relive the grand coronation of Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya on 27th January 2010 world heritage site of Hampi five centuries after he founded the empire in the Deccan plateau of south India. Hailed as the 'golden era' of prosperity, pomp and glory, the 16th century Vijayanagara empire was an epoch-making event in Indian history, as the illustrious emperor - a valiant warrior, great general and master military strategist had also sown the seeds of democratic administration.  Krishnadevaraya left behind a rich legacy of artefacts, treasury troves, temples, palaces, exquisite monuments and a royal city that was declared in 1986 a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco). To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the coronation in a grand style, the Karnataka government has decked up Hampi, around 15 km from Hospet in Bellary district, and organised a three-day festival (utsav) from Jan 27-29.  'A foundation stone to build a theme park with a 25-foot-tall bronze statue of Krishnadevaraya will be laid during the fest. The park will project the history of Hampi and Vijayanagara kingdom,' state Tourism and Infrastructure Minister G. Janardhan Reddy told IANS. The park on the banks of the Tungabhadra river will be built on the lines of Akshsardham temple on the banks of the Yamuna river in Delhi.  A commemorate stamp and a coin on Krishnadevaraya is planned to be issued to mark the mega event.

News from DNA dated 06-July-2011:

The state government's request to manufacture coins to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the coronation of Vijayanagar dynasty ruler Sri Krishnadevaraya has received a negative response from the Union finance ministry.  Replying to the request, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee wrote to the state that the commemorative coins could not be issued as all the mints were busy dealing the acute shortage of coins in the country.  "I have had the matter look into. As you are aware there is acute shortage of coins in the country... all our mints are busy achieving the target of indents placed by RBI. In addition, the mints have also received huge indents of coins from RBI for the upcoming years which will result in stretching all resources of mints to undertake the jobs in hand within the given timeframe," read Mukherjee's reply.