Sri Lanka - 25 Districts
    2013 - Ten Rupee Coins

    A new series of Ten Rupee coins representing the 25 Districts of Sri Lanka, was issued as a complete set by CBSL on 2014 November 17th. The obverse designs depict one or more of unique Archaeological, Cultural, Economic, Environmental, Religious or Social characteristics of each District.

    Select with mouse and click on a region in Map or the name in table below
    to go to page for the Rs 10 coin issued for that District:

    -

    25 Districts within 9 Provinces of Sri Lanka

      Northern
    • Jaffna
    • Kilinochchi
    • Mannar
    • Mullaitivu
    • Vavuniya

      • North Western
    • Puttalam
    • Kurunegala

      • Western
    • Gampaha
    • Colombo
    • Kalutara
      North Central
    • Anuradhapura
    • Polonnaruwa

      • Central
    • Matale
    • Kandy
    • Nuwara Eliya

      • Sabaragamuwa
    • Kegalle
    • Ratnapura
      Eastern
    • Trincomalee
    • Batticaloa
    • Ampara

      • Uva
    • Badulla
    • Monaragala

      • Southern
    • Hambantota
    • Matara
    • Galle

    On 2011 August 15th CBSL issued a Public Notice announcing an island wide competition titled "Design and Shine", with closing date was 2011 October 7th, for talented local artists to contribute designs for a new Series of Rs.10 Coins, offering cash prizes of Rs. 50,000/- for each selected design. CBSL invited creative artists, to represent elegantly, the unique iconic identity of each of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka. This resulted in 413 designers submitting 1150 designs. After a rigorous procedure, selected designs were modified for consistency and adapted for a coin, by one winning designer Mr. M.N.M. Frizvi. Other prize winning designers remain unnamed.

    The issue of the 25 District coin 2013 series was announced in CBSL Road Map 2013.

    The line drawing for Colombo, was first published in the CBSL Road Map 2014 presented by the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on 2014 January 2nd. See transcript of 45 second comment to slide 149 starting 1:57:17 of the over 2 hour Video posted on YouTube.

    SPECIFICATIONS
    DenominationTen Rupee
    AlloyStainless Steel
    AISI 430
    Diameter26.4 mm
    Thickness2.1 mm
    Weight8.36 gms
    Shape11 sided
    EdgePlain
    DieAxis0°
    MintSlovak Mint
    		 d25_colombo_r10
    The line drawing at 400 dpi is displayed at 300 dpi.

    No Proof coins were ordered, as these are part of the regular tender given to Mincovna Kremnica of the Slovak Republic for 175 Million circulation Rupees Ten coins. 2 Million coins dated 2013 for each of the 25 Districts makeup 50 Million coins of this order. Some of the remaining 125 Million had already issued as 2013 Rs10 definitive coins.

    The coins which will be issued into circulation at face value, were also packaged to sell to collectors. There was three language versions of packaging with text printed in English, Sinhala or Thamil.

    Produced by and Logo of PrintCare printed vertically appears in English on the lower-right edge of back of folders and presentation boxs of all 3 languages. Printed by and Logo of PrintCare appears in English on the lower-right edge of back of folders.

    • A Commemorative Folder of Complete set of 25 coins displayed in a simple 5x5 array in English Alphabetical order with standard reverse of one coin exposed at back and gives coin specifications. As decoration The Singing fish of Batticaloa coin is shown on the panel front, and the fishing trawler of Mullaithivu coin on the back. Inside of flaps on either side have 14% oversize line drawings of each coin and brief description below it. Folder was issued both in a tight fitting 169x199 mm sleeve for Rs1000/- and a 202x248 mm Presentation box for Rs2000/-.

    • Individual Cards (3.5x2.25 inch 89x57 mm ) with one coin of district each for Rs50. i.e. A Set of 25 District cards costs Rs1250/-

    • A Coffee Table Book titled "Our People Our Potential Our Pride" for the set printed only in English and size 12 inch square was also issued for Rs4000.
      On 4 pages for each district there is a map of island with outline of district and 3 short paragraphs titled The District, The Potential, The Life. For each Colombo, Gampaha and Jaffna, there are two extra pages of photographs.

    • Epilogue 2.5 years after release, I have encountered only one coin in circulation for over year, while it should be about 10% of the Rs10/- coins in circulation. All of them have been taken out of circulations. Uncirculated sets sell on eBay for US$37 (Rs 5550 or Rs222 per coin), and individual coins at US$2 (Rs 300). Circulated coins sell on the Colombo Fort pavement for Rs100 each./ to tourists.

    Please read my detailed comments on the issue of these coins and numismatics products in Blog.