2009 - Sri Lanka - 1000 Rupee - Silver
Sri Lanka Army - 60th Anniversary

A commemorative Thousand rupee, brillient uncirculated Silver coin was issued by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka on 2009 October 12th to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Army. It is 44% heavier and 23% thicker than the brillient uncirculated Cupro-nickel coin issued at same time.

SPECIFICATIONS
DenominationRupees 1000/-
AlloySilver(925 Ag)
TypeBrilliant Uncirculated
Diameter28.4 mm
Thickness2.2 mm
Weight11.9 gms
ShapeRound
EdgeMilled
Die-Axis
issue10,000
MintRoyal Mint
2009_army60_Rs1000_ag_obverse 2009_army60_Rs1000_ag_reverse
KM# 182a
  2009_army60_Rs1000_ld_obverse 2009_army60_Rs1000_ld_reverse

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 n 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 screw tight plastic capsule. Weight in capsule 19.26 grams. It is embedded in black velvet inside a dark Red rexine covered 9.2x8.8cm square box with a dot-wave sliver 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. A small transparent Quality Control sticker with QC 7 was pasted below the capsule.

The bright face of the two varieties are almost the same. The silver has a slightly better strike. Other than the weight which requires a good scale, the edge of the coin is the simplest way to identify the coin variety. By comparison you can see the silver is much thicker, but on it's own the Silver BU has a bright silver shine, and the Cupro-Nickel is dull gray. Although thicker, it is technically not a Piedfort which needs to be twice or more times the thickness of normal coin. Although almost proof-like it is a Pity that this off-metal NCLT is not a Proof. This issue was a rush order made after 2009 August, which probably made Proofs too costly.

The coin was gifted to President Mahinda Rajapakse in the presence of CDS General Sarath Fonseka by Mr Ajith Nivard Cabral, the Governor of the CBSL, at Temple Tree, Colombo on 2009 October 2nd.

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 commemorative coin was obtained from the Headquarters of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in Colombo. It was sold to public at the issue price of Rupees 2200/- or (US $19/-). With slightly more than a Tola of Silver it has a melt value of about Rs650/-

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.