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Obverse : The logo of the Sri Lanka Air Force 60th Anniversary
with the Armorial Ensign of Sri Lanka Air Force with an Eagle with wings outspread.
Sheaves of Paddy on either side of annulus with
ශ්රී ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව
and a banner below with the Motto සුරකිමු ළකඹර(Protect LakaAir?) in Sinhala only.
The National logo on top.
This logo is superimposed on the 6 of the large 60.
An artist's impression of four planes used by the Sri Lanka Air
Force. Below is the Chipmunk, used in its early days, and above are a
Mil Mi-24 ground attack helicopter, Hercules C-130 transport aircraft
and a F7 GS Thunderbolt fighter currently in service.
The period 1951 2011 at the bottom.
ශ්රී ලංකා
ගුවන් හමුදාව
in Sinhala at top
இலங்கை
விமானப்படை
in Thamil on left
and SRI LANKA AIR FORCE on right,
along periphery within raised rim.
Reverse : The large numeral denomination 2 with big
රුපියල් දෙකයි in Sinhala,
and smaller
இரண்டு ரூபாய் in Thamil
and TWO RUPEES
superimposed and issue year 2011 at the bottom.
The country name
ශ්රී ලංකා in Sinhala, centered on top,
இலங்கை in Thamil
on left and SRI LANKA on Right. All within circle of dashes along periphery with raised rim.
The Nickel plated steel coin has been minted to the standard Rs. 2/- currently in circulation. The obverse artwork was done by the Sri Lanka Air Force. It has clearly been inspired by the 50th Anniversary logo. Minted by the Royal Mint, Liantrisant, United Kingdom.
This was a rush order of coins using an existing authorization by
Monetary Board, executed in 2-3 months by Royal Mint.
An advance lot of 93 coins arrived only on March 1st, just in time for
a few to be gifted to HE the President and other dignitaries at the
opening of the Exhibition.
Enclosed in a circular transparent plastic capsule it is embedded in a
black velvet inside a dark blue rexine covered 7.7cm square spring hinged
presentation box with No printing. The white satin of the inside
cover has a small sash to hold a certificate which was not issued,
since this was a circulation strike not even as BU (Brilliant Uncirculated).
However the coin I got from the advance lot had no bag marks and clearly BU.
I thank Mr Harry Gunawardene for obtaining me a coin from a contact in Air Force.
CBSL issued a
Press release on Monday March 7th stating the AF 60th Anniv 2011
Rs 2 coin was issued on March 2nd. It was released into
circulation on 2011 April 28th.
A docket (folded A4 size card) has details and image of coin issued printed in Sinhala and English on the inside. This docket identifies the plane on top correctly as a F7GS rather what is given in the CBSL Press release which calls it an Mig27 which appeared on the 50th Anniversary coin. A description of that Rs 1 coin issued in 2001 is printed only in English at the back of the docket. It is a pity that this docket did not have provision to mount the coin, like that issued by CBSL for the 2007 Cricket World Cup Runners up Rs 5 coin.
The nice 60 page hard cover book in English with no adverts published for 60th Anniversary exhibition lists Wg Cdr K M K Keppetipola as organizing the First Day Cover and coin issue. A Rs 5 Stamp was also issued on the 2nd and the Bulletin published by the Philatelic Bureau lists Flying Officer Rasika Duminda for concept.
At exhibition I was told they may be sold in the presentation box at Rs500
each by the Air Force Museum in Ratmalana. When I phoned Museum on March 9th
I was told none are available. I rest of initial order of 500 arrived,
but was not put on sale to public. This BU circulation coin in Box has
become a collectors item.