2000 - Sri Lanka - 1 Rupee
Sri Lanka Navy - 50th Anniversary

A commemorative one rupee nickel-plated steel coin was issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on 2000 December 9th to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Navy.

SPECIFICATIONS
DenominationRupees one
AlloyNickel-plated steel
Diameter25.4 mm
Thickness2.0 mm
Weight7.13 gms
ShapeRound
EdgeGrained
Die-Axis
Issue BU20,000
MintMonnaie de Paris
2000_Rs1_obverse 2000_Rs1_reverse
KM# 164

Obverse : Within plain circle the Armorial Ensign of Sri Lanka Navy with the Flag Lion facing left with sword in right paw in front of a Ship anchor. Eight spoke ship wheel, like a Dharmachakra above. Mame of country ශ්‍රී ලංකා(Sri Lanka) in Sinhala only in scroll below. ශ්‍රී ලංකා නාවික හමුදාව in Sinhala on top இலங்கைக் கடற்படை in Thamil on left, and SRI LANKA NAVY on right divided by 2 stars, with the period 1950-2000 below, along periphery within raised rim.
Reverse : Within a plain circle at center an artist's impression of a gun boat of the Sri Lanka Navy. Below value in 3 lines රුපියලයි in Sinhala, ஒரு ரூபாய் in Thamil, and ONE RUPEE. Name of country ශ්‍රී ලංකා in Sinhala centered on top, இலங்கை in Thamil on left, and SRI LANKA on right, with the year of issue 2000 at bottom, along periphery with raised rim.

The nickel plated steel coin has been minted to the existing standard Rs. 1/- in circulation. The Proof coin is Cupro-Nickel and not be atracted by magnets and of different metal than the BU issue.

The artwork was done by Central Bank artist Mrs Padmanjalie Karunatillake on an impression by Captain Shemal Fernando, RSP USP of the Sri Lanka Navy. Minted at Monnaie De Paris in France. This Mint had not been previously used for Lanka coins which are almost always minted in the Royal Mint in London.

The brilliant uncirculated coin enclosed in a circular hard plastic coin holder is embedded in black velvet inside a white plastic 7.5cm square box. The Emblem of the Sri Lanka Navy printed in Blue on top with the words "Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary 9 December 2000" and the CBSL Emblem in blue on the white paper of the inside cover. A machine numbered beige card Certificate of Authenticity contains the specifications and description in Sinhala, Tamil and English. The issue price (December 2000) in Sri Lanka Rs 200/- (US $2.50).

This limited commemorative coin was not issued for circulation at face value. The very large primium relative to face was the largest for any coin issue before then. The BU coin is almost Proof-like but can be clearly distinguished since it is Nickel plated Steel and attracted by magnets, unlike the Proof coin which Cupro-Nickel like that of the AirForce coin. Both the Army Proof coin and the BU coin was Nickel plated Steel and attracted by magnets.

Media Reports 2000 12 07 CDN ; 2000 12 08 Island

I thank Shehan Patterson of HSBC for obtaining these commemorative coins for me from CBSL. The coin is scanned at 600 dpi displayed at 254 dpi.