CHAPPIDI ABHIRATH REDDY,
C/O COL GKS REDDY,
Sri Lanka Coins
The Rupee (Sinhala: රුපියල්, Tamil: ரூபாய்) (signs: රු, Rs, SLRs, /-; code: LKR) is the currency of Sri Lanka, divided into 100 cents. It is issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka and is generally written Rs. (though SLRs. may occasionally be used for disambiguation).
In 1872, copper ¼, ½, 1 and 5 cents coins dated 1870 were introduced, followed in 1892 by silver 10, 25 and 50 cents. Production of the ¼ cent ceased in 1904. The large, copper 5 cents coin was replaced in 1909 by a much smaller cupro-nickel coin which was square with rounded corners. In 1919, the fineness of silver used was reduced from .800 to .550.
Between 1940 and 1944, a wholesale change in the coinage was carried out. Production of the ½ cent ceased in 1940, with bronze 1 cent introduced in 1942 with reduced weight and thickness. Nickel-brass replaced cupro-nickel in the 5 cents in the same year and replaced silver in the 25 and 50 cents in 1943. In 1944, nickel-brass, scalloped shaped 2 and 10 cents coins were introduced. The scalloped 10 cents coin replaced the silver 10 cents coin. Later 2 cent coins issued in 1957 were the only coins from this period to ever depict Queen Elizabeth II. Coins with the portrait of King George VI continued to be issued despite his death. In 1957, cupro-nickel 1 rupee coins and .925 silver 5 rupee coins commemorating 2500 years of Buddhism were issued.
In 1963, a new coinage was introduced which omitted the British monarch's portrait, depicting instead The Armorial ensign of Ceylon. Coins issued were aluminium 1 and 2 cents, nickel brass 5 and 10 cents and cupro-nickel 25 and 50 cents and 1 rupee. These coins had the same shapes and sizes of the previous series but were composed of different materials. In 1976, commemorative seven sided 2 rupee and ten sided 5 rupee coins were introduced in limited numbers. In 1978, devaluation prompted aluminum to be the replacement of nickel-brass in the 5 and 10 cents, while shortly after 1 and 2 cents were discontinued. Cupro-nickel 2 rupees and aluminium-bronze 5 rupees coins were introduced in 1984 fully replacing the corresponding banknotes. In 1987, commemorative 10 rupees were released which like the 5 cent coin was square with round edges. In 1998 a bimetallic commemorative 10 rupee coin was released. Like earlier forerunner rupee denominations, these were again only issued in limited supply, not intended to replace the corresponding banknotes.
The obverse of the coins issued since 1972 carry the Armorial Ensign of the Republic of Sri Lanka. The reverse of the coin the value in numerals and in Sinhala, Tamil and English below and year of issue at the bottom with SRI LANKA in Sinhala on top. On 14 December 2005, the Sri Lanka central bank issued a new series of coins in the denominations of 25 and 50 cents, 1, 2 and 5 Rupees. The lower denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 cents, although legal tender, are not seen in circulation and not in general issued by banks. Furthermore, the minting of these denominations has been discontinued due to associated costs of production and lack of commercial demand.
My collection of Sri Lankan coins is reasonably good, due Op Pawan, IPKF Ops, wherein, I had an opportunity to obtain coins from my friends.
One Cent - 1963 - Nickel
One Cent - Smaller Emblem - 1978 - Aluminium
Two Cents - 1967 - Aluminium
Two Cents - Smaller Amblem - 1978 - Aluminium
Five Cents - 1978 - Aluminium
Ten Cents - King George VI - 1951 - Brass
Ten Cents - 1975 - Brass
Ten Cents - 1978 - Aluminium
Twenty Five Cents - 1975 - Nickel
Twenty Five Cents - 1996 - Steel Coated Aluminium
Fifty Cents - 1971 - Nickel
Fifty Cents - Smaller Emblem - 1975 - Nickel
Fifty Cents - 2005 - Copper Plated Steel
One Rupee - 1963 - Nickel
One Rupee - Smaller Emblem - 1982 - Nickel
One Rupee - 2000 - Steel Coated Aluminium
Two Rupees - 1981 - Nickel
Two Rupees - 1984 - Nickel
Two Rupees - FAO - 1995 - Nickel
Two Rupees - 2006 - Steel Coated Aluminium
Five Rupees - 1984 - Nickel
Five Rupees - 1986 - Nickel
Five Rupees - Upasampada Rite - 2003 - Nickel
Ten Rupees - 50 Years of Independence - 1988 - Bi Metallic
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