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Obverse : Depicts a soldier holding the National flag of Sri Lanka
with one hand and his weapon with the other, and the map of Sri Lanka
in the background, symbolizing the SLA safeguarding the territorial
integrity of the country.
Two more soldiers kneeling and ready for action on the right of the map.
The Motto
දිවි
පුදෙන් ලද
විජය in Sinhala on top,
தியாகத்தின்
ஊடாக வெற்றி
in Thamil on the left,
and VICTORY THROUGH SACRIFICE on the right with
ශ්රී
ලංකා යුද්ධ
හමුදාව(Sri Lanka Army)
in Sinhala only at bottom within a circle of along the periphery within raised rim.
All within a circle of decorative buds along the periphery with raised rim.
Reverse : The Armorial Ensign of Sri Lanka Army with crossed Kastane swords behind
National emblem above amd banner with
ශ්රී ලංකා යුද්ධ හමුදාව(Sri Lanka Army) in Sinhala only below.
Period Years 1949 - 2009 on either side.
The large numeral denomination 1000 on lower left with
රුපියල් in Sinhala,
ரூபாய் in Thamil
and RUPEES in 3 lines to right of numeral.
The year of issue 2009 centered below, within plain circle.
The anniversary
වජ්ර
ජයන්තිය in Sinhala at bottom,
வைர விழா
in Thamil on lower left,
and DIAMOND JUBILEE on lower right.
The country name
ශ්රී ලංකා in Sinhala, centered on top,
இலங்கை in Thamil
on upper left and SRI LANKA on upper right along periphery separated by eight
pointed star on either side, within annulus with raised rim.
The coin was designed by Central Bank artist Mr Kelum Gunasekera.
The Brilliant Uncirculated coin enclosed in a circular transparent
pressure fit plastic capsule. Weight in capsule 13.24 grams.
It is embedded in black velvet inside a dark
Blue rexine covered 9.2x8.8cm square box with a dot-wave silver square
printed on top. A white satin sash across the lower left corner in
the inside top lid holds a numbered Certificate of Authenticity with
the specifications and description in Sinhala, English and Tamil. The
Certificate of Authenticity is 7.4cm square, much larger than the older
Royal Mint Certificates.
A Plain white cardboard outer protection.
The commemorative coin was obtained from the Headquarters of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in Colombo. It was issued at face value of Rupees 1000/- or (US $8.70) in capsule with box. This is the first time since 1990 that CBSL has issued a NCLT at Face value. However six months later the price was increased to Rupees 1350/- (US $12.20) to avoid them being purchased for a free cash advance with a free Box and capsule. A similer issue by USMint was also exploited.
Of the 200K Minted, 195K was to issue one to every soldier in the Army. It would have been proper and within FR to issue the coin with October pay, since it is legal tender and issued at face value. However the payroll deduction in 2009 September, became controversial headline news. Large number of them got returned to the Central Bank.
Acceptance of coin in circulation has still to be tested. This NCLT Rs 1000/- coin has been minted to the existing standard diameter of Rs 2/- coin in circulation and in Cupro-Nickel used for that denomination from 1984 to 2004.
Read my article, an edited version of which was published as A sterling silver and cupro-nickel salute to SLA in the Sunday Times of 2009 October 18th.
The coin scanned at 600 dpi and the images are displayed at 254 dpi
Also displayed above are scans of Artwork sent to Royal Mint, included in CBSL Press release.