The oldest known commemorative coin in the World is the Eid Mar issued in 42 BCE by Brutus, after the Assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE. A gold coin of which, sold on Auction
in 2020 October for US$ 4 Million.
The oldest commemorative coin of Lanka maybe the Elephant and Swastika
which speculated by D. P. E. Hettiaratchi to have been for Arahat Mahinda 247 BCE.
The oldest known commemorative
coin
in the World is the Eid Mar issued in 42 BCE by Brutus, after the Assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE.
A gold coin of which, sold on Auction in 2020 October for US$ 4 Million.
In the CBSL 2011 Annual Report (Part 2 §5.3) after the issue of a coin for Ananda College CBSL states In terms of provisions of the Monetary Law Act, the Monetary Board is authorized to issue commemorative notes and coins to commemorate any person or a special event. In terms of the policy approved by the Monetary Board, such issues are made on account of a person who has made a significant contribution to overall well-being of Sri Lanka society or for an event (local or international) which has been an important turning point in Sri Lanka society or to mark a special initiative that could have a significant impact on the well-being of Sri Lanka society.
See also images and brief details of all Commemoratives on a single page exhibit. and including associated Stamp issues.
See also Commemorative Currency Notes
1968 U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization - Grow More Food - Rs 2 coin
1976 Fifth Non-Aligned Summit Conference - Rs 5 coin + Proof - Rs 2 coin + Proof
1978 First Executive President J. R. Jayewardene - Rs 1 coin + Proof - RSS die coin - Gold frosted Proof(NIP)
1981 Universal Adult Franchise - 50th Anniversary - Rs 5 coin
1981 Mahaweli Development Scheme inauguration = Rs 2 coin
1987 International Year of Shelter for the Homeless - Rs 10 coin - frosted Proof(NIP)
1990 Central Bank of Sri Lanka - 40th Anniversary - Rs 500 BU coin - frosted Proof
1991 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games V - Rs 500 Proof - Rs 100 Proof
1992 Second Executive President R. Premadasa - Rs 1 coin - frosted Proof - Silver Proof - Gold Proof(NIP)
1993 Anubudu Mihindu Jayanthiya - 2300th Anniversary - Rs 500 Proof
1995 U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization - FAO 50th Anniversary - Rs 2 coin
1995 United Nations - 50th Anniversary - Rs 5 coin + Proof
1996 United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF 50th Anniversary - Rs 1 coin
1998 Sri Lanka Independence - 50th Anniversary - Rs 5000 Proof - Rs 1000 Proof - Rs 10 coin - Rs 200 note and Flag pin
1999 Cricket World Cup - 1996 World Cricket Champions - Rs 1000 Proof - Rs 5 coin
1999 Sri Lanka Army - 50th Anniversary - Rs 1 BU coin - frosted Proof
2000 Central Bank of Sri Lanka - 50th Anniversary - Rs 1000 Proof
2000 Sri Lanka Navy - 50th Anniversary - Rs 1 BU coin - frosted Proof
2001 Sri Lanka Air Force - 50th Anniversary - Rs 1 Proof
2001 Colombo Plan - 50th Anniversary - Rs 2 coin
2003 Syamopasampada - 250th Anniversary - Rs 5 - Sangharaja coin - Rs 5 - Nahimi coin
2006 Buddha Jayanthi 2550 B.E. - Rs 2000 Proof - Rs 1500 Proof - Rs 5 coin
2007 Cricket World Cup - Runners-Up - Rs 1000 BU coin - Rs 5 coin
2008 Employees Provident Fund (EPF) - 50th Anniversary - Rs 1000 BU coin - frosted Proof(NIP) - Rs 2 coin
2009 Sri Lanka Customs Department - 200th Anniversary - Rs 200 Proof
2009 Sri Lanka Army - 60th Anniversary - Rs 1000 - Cupro-Nickel BU coin - Silver BU coin
2010 Central Bank of Sri Lanka - 60th Anniversary - Rs 5000 Proof
2011 Sri Lanka Air Force - 60th Anniversary - Rs 2 coin
2011 - Sambuddhatva Jayanti 2600 - Rs 1000 Proof - Rs 10 coin
2011 - People's Bank 50th Anniversary - Rs 1000 Proof
2011 - Ananda College 125th Anniversary - Rs 2000 Proof
2012 - Sri Lanka Scout Centenary - Rs 2 coin
2012 - Sri Lanka - Japan 60 Years. - Rs 1000 Proof
2014 - Bank of Ceylon 75th Anniversary - Rs 5 coin
2014 - Anagarika Dharmapala - Rs 500 Proof
2015 - Pope Francis visit 2015 January 13-15 - Rs 500 Proof
2015 - Colombo Municipal Council 150th Anniversary - Rs 500 Proof
2017 - Visakha Vidyalaya Centenary - Rs 2000 Proof
2017 - Ceylon Tea 150th Anniversary - Rs 10 coin.
2018 - Sri Lanka Signal Corp. 75th Anniversary - Rs 10 coin.
2020 - Colombo Medical Faculty 150th Anniversary - Rs 20 coin
2020 - Central Bank of Sri Lanka 70th Anniversary - Rs 20 BU coin - coin.
2021 - Sri Lanka Census of Population and Housing 150th Anniversary - Rs 20 coin.
2021 - Sri Lanka - China 65 Years. - Rs 1000 Gold Proof - Silver Proof.
2023 - Sri Lanka Independence 75th Celebration - Rs 1000 Cu-Ni Proof.
See also Historical Background by Tuan Sallay, and some of my comments.
I thank the former Superintendent of Currency of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka for providing me in 2001 with the mint figures of issues since 1985 and T. M. U. Sallay for older figures.
In commemorative Lankan coins the only exceptions to having all of the text in all three languages are the first Buddhist commemorative coins issued in 1957, the President Jayawardena coin issued in 1978 which have the name of the country only in Sinhala. The only other exceptions are the World Cup Cricket coins which has the names of the dozen participating nations only in English, and the 50th Anniversary of Independence Rupees Ten coin which has the incuse lettering on edge only in English.
All coin designs adopted after 1980 have the country name in all three languages, and after 1995 even ensure the font size of text is also the same. However all of the regular circulation issues since 1963 which are based on designs adopted before 1980 have the name of the country only in Sinhala. Therefore the one Rupees and smaller denomination coins issued even in 2005 do not have the name of the country in Tamil or English.
I thank Mr Mahesh Pirassath for typing description texts in Thamil on the coins in unicode.
Last edited 2023-03-09 Lakdivc Coin Collection website.