New Delhi: Coin collectors and numismatists will have enough to celebrate this year as the Government Mint, Mumbai has kick-started sale of commemorative coins to mark the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s return from South Africa and the Komagata Maru incident.
The coins have been made on the theme ‘Centenary of Mahatma Gandhi’s Return from South Africa’ and will be available in denominations of Rs 100 and Rs 10.
The Komagata Maru incident dates back to May 23, 1914 when the ship carrying 376 passengers, majority of whom were Sikhs, Muslims and Hindus — was denied entry into Canada after an immigration dispute. Some of the passengers were killed in protests on their return to India.
The government mint office in Mumbai has put up for sale these commemorative coins which can be booked from July 26 till September 26, both online and offline.
‘Centenary of Komagata Maru Incident’ themed coins are available in Rs 100 and Rs 5 denominations.
The proof coins cost Rs 3,225 each while uncirculated coins (UNC) carry a tag of Rs 2,644 each which are all inclusive of the goods and services tax (GST), the India Government Mint, Mumbai said in an advertisement.
“The coins will be delivered through India Post within six months from the date of closure of booking,” it said.
The coin on Gandhi’s return from South Africa in 1915 bears two images of the Father of the Nation — a young man in western attire and the other is the legendary thinly clad old man wearing round-shaped spectacles.
The centenary completion year ‘2015’ is engraved at the opposite corner to that of ‘1915’. The proof coin embossed letter M — meaning printed at Mumbai — have a frozen effect on the surface design with a mirror finish. The coin commemorating Komagata Maru incident depicts a big ship named ‘Komagata Maru’.
