2006 - Buddha Jayanthi 2550 B.E.
SRI LANKA - 1500 Rupee

At the request of the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, a commemorative Rs 1500/- sterling silver crown size frosted Proof NCLT; together with another Gold embossed Rs 2000/- coin of similer design was issued by Central Bank of Sri Lanka together with a Brass plated steel Rs5 circulation coin, to mark the 2550 Buddha Jayanthi year.

SPECIFICATIONS
DenominationRupee 1500/-
AlloySilver (0.925Ag)
Diameter38.61 mm
Thickness3.0? mm
Weight28.28 gms
ShapeRound
EdgeMilled
DieAxis
Issue20,000
MintRoyal,Llantrisant
2006_bj2550_r1500_obverse 2006_bj2550_r1500_reverse
KM# 171
  2006_bj2550_r1500_obverse 2006_bj2550_r1500_reverse

Obverse : Birth of Bodhisatva where according to the Mahayana traditional belief, Siddhartha after his birth in Lumbini, took seven steps under which seven lotus blossoms have bloomed while announcing the forthcoming Enlightenment within a plain circle. The anniversary බුදධ ජයනති in Sinhala on top புத்த ஜயந்தி in Thamil on upper left and BUDDHA JAYANTHI on upper right, and 2550 at bottom, within annulus with a circle of petals along periphery of raised rim.
Reverse : A lake with lotus below a 24 prong Dharma Chakra (wheel of doctrine) found on the stone pillar built by the Emperor Ashoka at Saranath in Varanasi, where Buddha preached his first sermon. The issue year 2006 above. Below the large numeral denomination 1500 with රුපියල් in Sinhala at bottom, ரூபாய் in Thamil to left and RUPEES to right. The country name ශ්‍රී ලංකා in Sinhala, centered on top, இலங்கை in Thamil on upper left and SRI LANKA on upper right, with lotus flowers on either side, within annulus with raised rim.

In the Buddha Dharma worldly nature is resembled to a lake of lotus blossoms. Just as there exist in a lake young buds, mature buds and buds about to bloom, in the world of human too there exists men of diverse levels of attainment of conciousness. Disciples like lotus in the lake, bloom by the radiance of the Dharma represented by the Chakra.

The frosted proof coin has been struck with one ounce of sterling silver to the British crown coin size. Enclosed in a circular coin capsule it is embedded in red velvet inside a dark red leatherette covered 7.5cm square spring hinged Royal Mint presentation box. The Emblem of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka printed in silver on the white satin of the inside cover. A locally printed numbered Certificate of Authenticity contains the specifications and the text in Sinhala, Tamil and English.

A few from first 40 were distributed at 2550 Buddha Jayanthi inauguration held at the Presidential Secretariat at 4 PM on Thursday 2006 May 11th. It was sold to public from 2006 May 15th for the issue price was Rs 5000/- (US $49).

Read my article, an edited version of which was published as Coins of tribute in the Sunday Times of 2006 May 21st.

The coin was obtained from CBSL on 2006 May 15th scanned at 600 dpi and the images are displayed at 254 dpi. Also displayed above are scans of Artwork sent to Royal Mint.