Ever since demonetisation and the introduction of new notes in India, I’ve been thinking about how that was a missed opportunity to celebrate the country. Sure, the new notes do hype our space programme, and different monuments, but it’s Mahatma Gandhi on every note. That’s to be expected – the notes are part of the Mahatma Gandhi series¹.
What I’ve been thinking about was a new series that resembles the commemorative quarters programme in the US. For about a decade, the US Mint released 4 or 5 special edition ¢25 coins that celebrated a state each. Starting in 2022, the American Women Quarters programme will put out a collectible series for four years that celebrates notable women in America. ²
They have different figures from their history on their notes.³ While ours resembles the British system where a single person (Mahatma Gandhi for us, and Queen Elizabeth II for the British) is represented on the notes.
What would a commemorative currency programme look like in India? We have 28 states and 8 UTs. We have coins for ₹1, ₹2, ₹5, ₹10, and soon, ₹20, and notes for the denominations of ₹5, ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100, ₹200, ₹500, and ₹2000 rupees. That’s a lot of opportunities to celebrate important people, places, languages, and events from around the country. To celebrate the diversity of the country.
There have been commemorative coins issued by the Mints to celebrate individuals or big government policies or major events that the country has hosted.
Most people might ignore it, but I would bet that there are many of us who would love to see our regions highlighted to the rest of the country. Personally, I grew up outside my home state, and learned very little about it as a result. I would love to have seen it acknowledged on something that we use as frequently as money.
Oh, and if you find the Biju Patnaik coins from 2015? Send me a picture!