2015 - Mahatma Gandhi Medallion | Mint Souvenir Token

The India Government Mint, Mumbai, in association with MMTC, issued a commemorative souvenir medallion in 2015 featuring Mahatma Gandhi as part of 'The Indian Gold Coin.' It was subsequently issued by the India Government Mint, Kolkata as well.

The gold medallion issued in 2015 by the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Ltd. (SPMCIL), in association with the Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation Ltd. (MMTC), bears the image of Mahatma Gandhi and serves as a fitting tribute to a man whose life and ideals continue to inspire generations. Born on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, present-day Gujarat, Gandhi rose from his early career as a lawyer to become one of the principal leaders of India’s freedom struggle and, beyond India, a global symbol of non-violence and moral leadership.

Mahatma Gandhi’s years in South Africa, beginning in 1893, played a decisive role in shaping his political and moral philosophy. There, he experienced racial discrimination firsthand and gradually developed the method of non-violent resistance known as Satyagraha, based on the principles of Satya (truth) and Ahimsa (non-violence). He returned to India in 1915, and within a few years became a leading figure in the national movement against British colonial rule. The 2015 medallion carries particular significance as it also marks the Centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Return from South Africa, marking 100 years since his return to India.

In India, Gandhi helped transform the freedom struggle into a mass movement that reached ordinary people, including farmers, workers, women, and marginalised communities. His leadership in movements such as the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917 and the Kheda Satyagraha in 1918 brought issues affecting rural communities to the forefront of the national movement. In 1930, he led the historic Salt March, or Dandi March, from Sabarmati Ashram to Dandi, covering approximately 390 kilometres, in protest against the British salt laws. The movement became one of the defining episodes of India’s struggle for independence.

Gandhi’s vision extended beyond political freedom. He advocated self-reliance, rural development, dignity of labour, simplicity, communal harmony, and the eradication of untouchability. The Charkha, or spinning wheel, became one of the most recognisable symbols of his philosophy of self-reliance and the promotion of indigenous goods. His simple lifestyle and commitment to living among ordinary people reflected the principles he advocated.

The 2015 gold medallion carries a special historical and commemorative significance. Struck in 24-karat gold with a fineness of 999, it was issued as part of the Government of India’s Gold Coin programme. The depiction of Mahatma Gandhi gives the medallion a strong commemorative character, while its precious-metal composition makes it particularly appealing to collectors interested in modern Indian commemorative coins, mint souvenir tokens and medallions, and Gandhi-related numismatics.

For a numismatist, the 2015 Mahatma Gandhi gold medallion represents more than its precious-metal content. The medallion was associated with the Gold Monetisation Scheme and the Make in India initiative, supporting the organised mobilisation and recycling of gold within the country while contributing to the broader objective of strengthening the domestic economy. The medallions were made available through MMTC outlets in 15 cities, including Jaipur, Ludhiana, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai, with plans to expand distribution through banks and India Post.

The medallion also invites reflection on the enduring relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of truth, non-violence, simplicity, service, self-reliance, and social harmony. By commemorating his legacy through a gold medallion, the issue offers collectors a lasting connection to one of the most influential figures in modern Indian history and to the values associated with his life and work.

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