2 Rupees: 1999 - Till Date

Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - 1999 

Year: 1999
Metal: Copper-nickel
Weight: 5.69 gm
Diameter: 25.9 mm
Thickness: 1.46 mm
Shape: Hendecagonal (11-sided) 

Commemorative issue: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

Obverse: Ashoka Lion pedestal, denomination below.
Reverse: Bust of Shivaji Maharaj.

Portrait of Chatrapati Shivaji @ British Museum

Shivaji Bhosale ( 10 February 1630 – 3 April 1680) was the founder of the Maratha Empire, which lasted until 1818 and at its peak covered much of the Indian subcontinent. An aristocrat of the Bhosle Maratha clan, Shivaji led a resistance to free the Maratha people from the Adilshahi sultanate of Bijapur [Adilshahi] and the Mughal Empire and established a Hindavi Swarajya ("self-rule of Hindu people"). He created an independent Maratha kingdom with Raigad as its capital, and was crowned Chatrapati ("paramount sovereign") of the Marathas in 1674.He is today remembered in Maharashtra as a hero and a great King who stood for freedom and for the right of maratha independence.

This 2 rupees coin was issued in his commemoration for general circulation. The other 2 coins issued were in the denomination of 50 rupees and the 100 rupees as uncirculated/proof specimens.

Click here to know more about Shivaji Maharaj.

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Supreme Court of India - 2000

Year: 2000

Metal: Copper-nickel

Weight: 6 gm

Diameter: 26.5 mm

Thickness: 1.46 mm

Shape: Hendecagonal (11-sided)

Commemorative issue: 50th Anniversary of Supreme Court.

Obverse: Asoka lion pedestal, denomination below.

Reverse: Emblem of Supreme court of India (Wheel above Asoka Lion pedestal). The slogan "Yato Dharma Stato Jaya" in Sanskrit below it, which means that where there is virtue (Dharma), there is victory.

Emblem of Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by the Constitution of India. According to the Constitution of India, the role of the Supreme Court is that of a federal court and guardian of the Constitution.

On the 28th of January, 1950, two days after India became a Sovereign Democratic Republic, the Supreme Court came into being and is located on Tilak Marg, New Delhi. The Supreme Court of India functioned from the Parliament House till it moved to the present building. It has a 27.6 metre high dome and a spacious colonnaded verandah. For a peek inside, you’ll have to obtain a visitor’s pass from the front office.The Golden Jubilee celebration of its establishment was observed in the year 2000.

On this occasion this 2 rupees coin was issued in November 2000 for general circulation and a 50 rupees coin was issued as uncirculated/proof specimen.

Click here to know more about Supreme Court of India.

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Dr. ShyamaPrasad Mukharjee - 2001 

Year: 2001

Metal: Copper-nickel

Weight: 6.24 gm

Diameter: 25.7 mm

Thickness: 1.56 mm

Shape: Hendecagonal (11-sided)

Commemorative issue: 100th Anniversary Birth of Dr. Syama P. Mookerjee.

Obverse: Asoka lion pedestal, denomination below.

Reverse: Bust of Dr.Syama P. Mookerjee.

Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherji

Syama Prasad Mookerjee (July 6, 1901 - June 23, 1953) was a nationalist political leader of India.Along with Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Mookerjee is considered the godfather of Hindu nationalism in India, especially the Hindutva movement.

He was the youngest Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta from 1934-38. In Nehru's Cabinet, he was a minister for Industry and Supply. After the differences with Pandit Nehru,Mookerjee left Congress and founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the first Hindu nationalist political party of its kind. He was also the leader of the Hindu Mahasabha and closely associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He is widely revered by members and supporters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.His death is said to be the 'Nehru Conspiracy' due to his differences with Nehru especially on the then topic of special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

This 2 rupees coin was issued in his commemoration for general circulation. The other 3 coins issued were in the denomination of 10 rupees, 50 rupees and the 100 rupees as uncirculated/proof specimens.

Click here to know more about S.P.Mukherji.

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Sant Tukaram - 2002 

Year: 2002

Metal: Copper-nickel

Weight: 6.1 gm

Diameter: 26.7 mm

Thickness: 1.58 mm

Shape: 11 - sided

Commemorative issue: Saint Tukaram.

Obverse: Asoka lion pedestal, denomination below.

Reverse: Seated image of Sant Tukaram holding musical instruments Veena [ In Right hand] and Chiplya [In Left hand].

Sant Tukaram

Tukaram(1608–1645) was a prominent Varkari Sant and spiritual poet of the Bhakti. He is often referred to with an honorific 'Sant Tukaram'. Tukaram was a devotee of god Vitthala or Vithoba, a form of Vishnu. Tukaram was born and lived most of his life in Dehu, a town close to Pune in Mahārāshtra, India. His real name is Tukaram Bolhoba Aambile. It is believed that Tukaram was the successor to Dnyaneshwar who denied caste hierarchy in Hindu religion and attacked rituals present in Hinduism. Tukaram attacked almost every form of myth existing in Hindu society during his time. He opposed the existing system of Vedas supported chaturvarna.

There are some films released on him e.g. 1936 Marathi film 'Sant Tukaram ', 1973 Telugu film 'Bhakta Tukaram'  and 2012 Marathi film 'Tukaram'.

This 2 rupees coin was issued in his commemoration for general circulation. The other 3 coins issued were in the denomination of 10 rupees, 50 rupees and 100 rupees as uncirculated/proof specimens.

Click here to know more about Sant Tukaram.

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Railways 150 Glorious Years - 2003 

Year: 2003

Metal: Copper-nickel

Weight: 6.05 gm

Diameter: 26.5 mm

Thickness: 1.46 mm

Shape: Round

Commemorative issue: 150 Years of Indian Railways.

Obverse: Ashoka Lion pedestal, denomination below.

Reverse: Portrait of Bholu,The guard (Mascot of Indian railways).

Bholu holding lamp showing green signal to railway

On 16th April 1853, the first train in India left Bombay's Bori Bunder for Thane. since then it completed 150 years in 2003. On the occasion of Indian Railway's 150th year, a mascot in the form of a cartoon elephant, 'Bholu', dressed in the uniform of a Train Guard, holding a hand signal lamp with green light was adopted.

This 2 rupees coin, in commemoration 150 glorious years, was issued on 1.9.2003 for general circulation. On this occasion another 100 rupees coin was issued, as proof / unc specimen.

Click here to know more about Indian Railways.

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Indian Air Force Platinum Jubilee - 2003 

Year: 2007

Metal: Stainless Steel

Weight: 6 gm

Diameter: 26 mm

Shape: Round

Commemorative issue: 75th Years of Indian Air Force.

Obverse: Ashoka Pillar Lion Capitol and the denomination between the two lines.

Reverse: Multi-role combat aircraft 'SU 30 MK I' at the top and the first fighter aircraft 'Wapiti' below it. 

The new obverse design started getting issued from this coin onwards.

Indian Air Force Symbol

The Indian Air Force ( Bhartiya Vayu Sena) is the air arm of the armed forces of India. It was officially established on October 8, 1932. Since independence, the IAF has been involved in four wars with neighbouring Pakistan and one with the People's Republic of China. Other major operations undertaken by the IAF include Operation Vijay – the invasion of Goa, Operation Meghdoot, Operation Cactus and Operation Poomalai. Apart from conflicts, the IAF has been an active participant in United Nations peacekeeping missions. It also takes part in rescue operations during national calamities like flood, cyclone and earth quakes etc.

This 2 rupees coin was issued by India in 2007 to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee of its establishment. On this occasion another 100 rupees coin was also issued as uncirculated/proof specimen.

This coin is one the most rare coins of India and is very expensive. I do not have this coin in my collection.

Click here to know more about IAF.

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Louis Braille - 2009 

Year: 2009

Metal: Stainless Steel

Weight: 5.8 gm

Diameter: 27 mm

Thickness: 1.5 mm

Shape: Round

Commemorative issue: Birth Bi-centenary of Louis Braille.

Obverse: Asoka lion pedestal and the denomination between lines.

Reverse: Bust of Louis Braille, Braille script reads: “L.BRL”.

Louis Braille (4 January 1809 – 6 January 1852) was the inventor of braille, a system of reading and writing used by people who are blind or visually impaired. As a small child, Braille was blinded in an accident; as a boy he developed a mastery over that blindness; and as a young man – still a student at school – he created a revolutionary form of communication that transcended blindness and transformed the lives of millions. After two centuries, the braille system remains an invaluable tool of learning and communication for the blind, and it has been adapted for languages worldwide.

Click here to know more about L. Braille.

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RBI Platinum Jubilee - 2010 

Year: 2010

Metal: Stainless Steel

Weight: 5.8 gm

Diameter: 27 mm

Thickness: 1.48 mm

Shape: Round

Commemorative issue: 75th Anniversary of the Reserve Bank of India

Obverse: Lion capitol of Ashoka Pillar

Reverse: Lion advancing left, palm tree in background, dates below.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is India's central banking institution, which controls the monetary policy of the Indian rupee. It was established on 1 April 1935 during the British Raj. The Central Office of the Reserve Bank was initially established in Kolkata, but was permanently moved to Mumbai in 1937.Following India's independence in 1947, the RBI was nationalised in the year 1949.

The RBI plays an important part in the development strategy of the Government of India.It regulates the issue of bank notes, keeps reserves with a view to securing monetary stability in India and operates the currency and credit system in the best interests of the country.

Year 2010 celebrated the platinum jubilee of RBI.To commemorate the occasion, India issued this 2 rupees coin on 1st April 2010 for general circulation. There were 4 other coins issued on the same occasion, the 1 rupee, 5 rupees and the 10 rupees coins were issued for general circulation and the coin of 75 rupees was issued as proof/uncirculated specimen.

Click here to know more about RBI.

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19th Commonwealth Games Delhi - 2010 

Year: 2010

Metal: Stainless Steel

Weight: 5.6 gm

Diameter: 27 mm

Thickness: 1.44 mm

Shape: Round

Commemorative issue: 19th Commonwealth Games in India.

Obverse: Ashoka Lion Capitol, denomination to the right, between horizontal lines.

Reverse: Commonwealth games 2010 logo.

Commonwealth Games are held in every four years. The “XIX Common Wealth Games” were held at New Delhi from 3rd October 2010 to 14th October 2010.

India issued this 2 rupees coin on 3rd October 2010 to commemorate this event. Out of the other 2 coins issued on the same occasion, the 5 rupees coin was issued for general circulation and the 100 rupees coins was issued as uncirculated/proof specimens.

Click here to know more about CWG 2010.

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