2023 - Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab | Unreleased Commemorative Coin

The Government of India initially announced a ₹100 commemorative coin to mark the 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab, one of Odisha’s most distinguished freedom fighters, administrators, and statesmen. 

The Ministry of Finance issued the official gazette notification confirming the ₹100 coin on December 29, 2023, thereby formally approving its design, composition, and specifications.

However, this coin was never released. In the months leading up to the anniversary, the government revisited the planned denomination, considering Dr. Mahatab’s towering contributions to the nation—both as the first Chief Minister of Odisha and as a key architect of modern Odia identity. Just days before the scheduled release function, a decision was made to reassess and revise the denomination to provide a more befitting honour. Instead of issuing a corrigendum to the earlier notification, the government opted for a fresh gazette notification, signalling a complete replacement of the coin.

This new notification, issued on November 19, 2024, announced a ₹125 commemorative coin. In addition to revising the denomination, the updated notification also corrected the year on the coin to 2024, replacing the earlier mention of 2023. The move ensured that the coin accurately reflected the year of the 125th Birth Anniversary and aligned the design with the upgraded tribute.

The ₹125 coin, now bearing the corrected details and denomination, was officially unveiled on November 21, 2024, by the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, during a special function commemorating Dr. Mahatab’s 125th Birth Anniversary. The event highlighted his immense legacy as a freedom fighter, literary figure, parliamentarian, and visionary leader known affectionately as Utkala Keshari.

Meanwhile, the ₹100 coin—despite being formally notified—remains unreleased and absent from official sets. It is widely believed that the ₹100 coin may have been minted in limited quantities, possibly for inaugural executive or dignitary sets, before the government’s decision to discontinue it. These pieces, if minted, were likely scrapped or retained internally by the India Government Mint, Kolkata, making them an intriguing yet inaccessible chapter in India’s numismatic history.

The transition from a ₹100 to a ₹125 coin ultimately underscored the government’s intent to provide an enhanced and more meaningful numismatic tribute to Dr. Harekrushna Mahatab on his milestone anniversary.

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