1976 - Sri Lanka - 5 Rupee
Non-Aligned Nations Conference

Two commemorative coins were issued by Central Bank of Ceylon in August 1976 for the Fifth Summit Conference of the Non-Aligned Nations held in Colombo. A five rupee nickel coin was issued together with a two rupee cupro-nickel coin into circulation.

SPECIFICATIONS
DenominationRupees Five
AlloyPure nickel
Diameter32.84 mm
Thickness2.4 mm
Weight13.60 gms
Shape10 equal
straight sides.
Edgeplain
Die-Axis
Issue1,000,000
Proof 500+500
MintRoyal,Wales
1976_Rs5_obverse 1976_Rs5_reverse
KM# 143

Obverse : A image of the venue, the Bandaranaike Memorial International conference Hall, and the words NON-ALIGNED NATIONS CONFERENCE and the year of issue 1976 at the bottom. Same text in නොබැදුනු ජාතින්ගෙ සම්මෙලනය in Sinhala on left, and கூட்டுச்சேரா நாடுகளின் மகாநாடு in Thamil on right, along periphery within a raised rim.
Reverse : The large numeral denomination 5 with big රුපියල් පහයි in Sinhala, and smaller ஐந்து ரூபாய் in Thamil, and FIVE RUPEES superimposed. The year 1976 of issue at the bottom. The country name ශ්‍රී ලංකා in Sinhala, centered on top, இலங்கை in Thamil on left and SRI LANKA on Right, along periphery within a raised rim.

The two coin proof sets are embedded in dark blue velvet inside a dark blue 13.0 by 6.0 cm rectangular spring hinged box with a 3.0 cm diameter the Emblem of the Central Bank of Ceylon printed in gold on top. The Emblem of the Royal Mint is printed in black on the white satin in the inside cover. Each of the two round slots has a purple ribbon to lift the coin out. The Rs 5 coin fits on the right, but the two coins were issued sealed in a single double compartment plastic sheet.

CBSL confirmed the number of Proofs minted is 500 (as listed by Sallay). However the Krause listing of 1000 from the Annual Report of the Royal Mint probably reflects additional cased sets sold directly by the RoyalMint.

The coin was scaned at 300 dpi and the images are displayed at 254 dpi. The uncirculated commemorative coins were obtained from the Central Bank of Ceylon. I purchased a pair of proof coins from a dealer in Germany, and was glad to obtain in February 2002 a proof set in original case with W.P.N.A. in Pittsburgh, USA.