Numismatics Collections

The Republic India's commemorative coinage has witnessed several unusual chapters where coins officially approved by the Government of India, and was gazette notified by the Ministry of Finance, were never made available to the collecting community or the general public. While most commemorative coins eventually reach collectors either through circulation or mint-issued proof and uncirculated sets, a handful of issues remain exceptions. These coins were either distributed only to dignitaries attending the inaugural function, issued in extremely limited quantities, or in one notable case, never released at all despite elaborate official preparations. As a result, these themes have become some of the most fascinating and least understood episodes in the history of Republic India commemorative coinage. One of the earliest examples is the Land Vital Resource ₹2 commemorative coin . Released on November 30, 1993, by the then Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Arvind Netam,...

The Government of India has taken the first formal step towards the possible introduction of polymer banknotes after approving the Reserve Bank of India's proposal to conduct field trials of polymer-based ₹10 and ₹20 notes. The Ministry of Finance has authorised the RBI to print one billion pieces (one hundred crore) each of the ₹10 and ₹20 polymer banknotes for pilot circulation across selected regions of the country. The approval was confirmed by the Minister of State for Finance, Shri Pankaj Chaudhary, in a written reply to questions raised in the Lok Sabha. According to the government, the RBI intends to introduce the polymer banknotes on a trial basis to evaluate their performance under India's diverse climatic and circulation conditions. The pilot project will assess factors such as durability, resistance to wear and tear, public acceptance, machine compatibility, and overall cost-effectiveness before any decision is taken on a wider rollout. The RBI has maintained that...

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for the Ministry of Ayush and Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, has urged the Government of India to issue a ₹150 commemorative coin and a commemorative postage stamp to mark the 150th Prakat Din of Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj . Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj is one of Maharashtra's most revered saints, believed to have first appeared at Shegaon in Buldhana district on February 23, 1878. Revered for his teachings of devotion, compassion, humility, and selfless service, his life and miracles are recorded in the sacred text Shri Gajanan Vijay. Today, Shegaon is a major pilgrimage centre, while the Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan carries forward his legacy through education, healthcare, and social welfare initiatives. In separate letters addressed to Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Shri Jyot...

The India Government Mint, Kolkata has opened bookings for a few more commemorative coin sets that were originally issued on earlier occasions and are now being offered as reissues. Bookings commenced on July 23, 2026, and are subject to limited availability. The newly listed reissues include the ₹100 Proof Coin Set issued in honour of Sant Shiromani Jainacharya Vidyasagar Mahamuniraj , priced at ₹8,279 in Folder (Blister) packaging, and the ₹60 Proof Coin Set issued to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani , priced at ₹8,374 in Booklet packaging. It is worth noting that the MDF box packaging for both commemorative themes was never offered through the India Government Mint's official website . However, the Jainacharya Vidyasagar ji's coin was distributed in an MDF presentation box during its official release function through the proponent organisation. The BITS Pilani coin also appears to have been prepared in MDF box packaging, as the ...

The continued production of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav   definitive coin series in 2026 raises an important question about its relevance when India is already celebrating its 80th year of Independence. The definitive series comprising ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, ₹10, and ₹20 denominations was released by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on June 6, 2022, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav  (AKAM) celebrations marking the 75th year of India's Independence. Although the series was officially released in 2022, the coins were minted bearing the years 2021 and 2022, reflecting the commencement of the nationwide celebrations. While the ₹2, ₹5, ₹10, and ₹20 coins entered circulation soon after their release, the ₹1 coin entered circulation only with the year 2023. Despite the passage of time, the same definitive series has continued to be minted and issued with the years 2024, 2025, and even 2026. Unlike commemorative coins , definitive coins are intended for long-term circulation and...

India has taken another significant step towards the possible introduction of polymer banknotes with Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) issuing a Global Expression of Interest (EOI) on July, 17 2026 for the manufacture and supply of opacified polymer substrate sheets with advanced security features. The initiative is aimed at identifying experienced domestic and international manufacturers capable of producing high-security polymer substrates suitable for printing Indian banknotes. While this does not confirm the immediate introduction of polymer currency, it demonstrates that the groundwork for its adoption is now progressing in a structured manner. Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India and is under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India. Established in 1995 to augment the country's banknote printing capacity, BRBNMPL is responsible for the production ...

The Government of India will issue a ₹200 commemorative coin to mark the 200th Birth Anniversary of Pujya Mata Sahib Hasi Devi . The Ministry of Finance issued a gazette notification on July 9, 2026, confirming this coin. Param Pujniya Mata Sahib Hassi Devi was a revered spiritual leader of the Shadani Darbar in Sindh, remembered for her deep devotion, compassion, and selfless service. She assumed the spiritual leadership of the Darbar in 1852 and dedicated her life to prayer, charity, and the welfare of devotees. Under her guidance, the Shadani Darbar flourished as a centre of faith and service, and numerous traditions recount her acts of divine grace and blessings. Her enduring legacy continues to inspire followers of the Shadani tradition, who honour her as a symbol of piety, humility, and spiritual leadership. The metal composition of the ₹200 coin will consist of a Quaternary Alloy, comprising 50% Silver, 40% Copper, 5% Nickel, and 5% Zinc. The coin will weigh 35 grams and h...

Among Indian coin collectors, the 2019 definitive coin series is widely referred to as the "Raindrop Series" or "Raindrop Coins."  The nickname has become so common that it frequently appears in coin trading groups, online marketplaces, catalogues, and social media discussions. However, despite its popularity, the term is technically incorrect and finds no support in any official Government document. The coins were never intended to depict raindrops; rather, they were designed to showcase India's agricultural strength through the depiction of grains. The 2019 definitive series marked one of the most significant redesigns of India's circulating coinage in recent years, comprising the ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, ₹10, and ₹20 denominations. Besides introducing the country's first circulating dodecagonal bi-metallic ₹20 coin, the series was designed to be more accessible to visually impaired individuals through distinct sizes, weights, and edge patterns, making each denom...

The India Government Mint, Mumbai, has listed two more  commemorative coins that were issued on earlier occasions. The bookings were opened today, June 22, 2026, and are subject to limited availability. The ₹60 coin issued to mark 60 Years of Coir Board  in 2014 and the ₹100 coin marking the Saint Alphonsa Birth Centenary  in 2009 are now being offered as Proof Sets with booklets. Earlier, these themes were available only in folder or blister packaging and carried lower denominations. The 60 Years of Coir Board Proof Set is priced at ₹11,876, while the Saint Alphonsa Birth Centenary Proof Set is priced at ₹12,943. With these releases, the India Government Mint, Mumbai has effectively reissued older commemorative themes at significantly higher prices, a move many collectors consider an added burden, especially when silver prices have declined in recent times.  Although these sets have not been officially described as restrikes, they may feature minor variations and m...

The India Government Mint, Kolkata has commenced bookings for several commemorative coin sets issued earlier on different occasions, now being offered as re-strikes. The bookings opened today, June 15, 2026, and are subject to limited availability. These coin sets are being issued as restrikes in Proof Set with booklet packaging. However, all themes have been uniformly priced at ₹8,953, even though several issues, such as the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) commemorative coins, are struck in lower-specification quaternary alloys and measure only 39 mm in diameter with a weight of 22.5 grams. Theme Denomination Price Income Tax: 150 Years of Building India ₹150 ₹8,953 Louis Braille 200th Birth Anniversary ₹100 ₹8,953 Shaheed Bhagat Singh Birth Centenary ₹100 ₹8,953 200 Years of State Bank of India ₹100...

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Shri Jitendra Singh, along with the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, inaugurated the newly established Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) at Lucknow on June 8, 2026. The state-of-the-art facility is expected to strengthen weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster preparedness across Uttar Pradesh and the surrounding region, further enhancing the capabilities of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in delivering timely and accurate meteorological services. During the inauguration ceremony, Shri Jitendra Singh respectfully presented the ₹150 commemorative coin issued to mark the 150 Years of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath. The presentation highlighted the enduring contribution of the IMD towards weather forecasting, scientific research, disaster management, and public safety since its establishment i...

The possibility of India introducing polymer banknotes has once again entered public discussion following recent remarks by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shri Sanjay Malhotra and the announcement of a major investment by German security technology company Giesecke+Devrient (G+D). While no official decision has yet been taken regarding polymer currency , the convergence of these developments has raised questions about whether G+D could emerge as an important partner in India's future currency transformation. India's economy is currently being viewed with considerable optimism by policymakers and global investors alike. RBI Governor Shri Sanjay Malhotra recently stated that the Indian economy presents a picture of strength, stability, and opportunity, supported by strong fundamentals, growth-oriented policies, and a forward-looking economic strategy. He also emphasized that India remains an attractive destination for domestic and international investment and that the coun...