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Obverse : Symbolic representation of the Sri Maha Bo-Sapling
in bowl with 2600 on a large pedestal at center within plain circle.
The anniversary
සම්බුද්ධත්ව
ජයන්තිය in Sinhala on top
சம்புத்தத்வ
ஜயந்தி in Thamil on left
and SAMBUDDHATVA JAYANTI on right,
and issue year 2011 at bottom within annulus,
formed by a circle of decorative petals along the periphery with raised rim.
Reverse : A 24 prong DharmaChakra (wheel of doctrine) with a got in each prong at center.
The numeral denomination 1000 with the currency
රුපියල් in Sinhala centered
ரூபாய் in Thamil on left,
and RUPEES on right below.
The country name
ශ්රී ලංකා in Sinhala, centered on top,
இலங்கை in Thamil
on left and SRI LANKA on right within annulus
formed by a circle of decorative petals along the periphery with raised rim.
The certificate says the DharmaChakra represents the Four Noble Truths. The usual DharmaChakra adopted in Sri Lanka, like on the National Emblem has Eight spokes and represents the Noble Eightfold Path. The Wikipedia states the 24 spokes represent the Twelve Laws of Dependent Origination and the Twelve Laws of Dependent Termination (Paticcasamuppada). The CBSL Press release says the 24 lattice symbolize Suvisi Vivarana the twenty four proclamations given to the Bodhisattva (future Gautama Buddha) by twenty four former Buddhas approving him as the Buddha designate. I could not find a reference to this association.
The Buddhist Dharmachakra with 24 spokes, is found on the stone pillar built by the Emperor Ashoka at Saranath in Varanasi, where Buddha preached his first sermon. The Ashoka Chakra was adopted in India as their National Emblem and put at center of the Indian flag.
The chakra used on this coin is slightly different, by the additional circle of dots, one on each of the spokes, and convex nature of inner rim rather than a central bump on each rim section of the Ashoka Chakra.
Spelling on the certificate Sambuddhathva Jayanthi is different to the correct English transliteration found on the coin. The spelling JAYANTHI is used in the 2550 Buddha Jayanthi coins issued in 2006. The Press release uses this spelling and few other variations. Addition of h and switching V to a W are common English transliteration method adopted by those who converse mainly in Sinhala.
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 black velvet inside a bright yellow leatherette
covered 7.5cm square spring hinged Royal Mint presentation box. The
Emblem of the Royal Mint is printed in silver on the white
satin of the inside cover. A printed numbered Certificate of
Authenticity contains the specifications and the text in Sinhala,
Tamil and English.
The Rs 1,000 coin was officially handed over to Hon. Minister of Finance and planning, H.E the President Mahinda Rajapaksa by Mr. Ajith Nivard Cabral, the Governor of the CBSL, at Colombo on 2011 May 13th It was sold to public by CBSL from 2011 May 16th for the issue price was Rs 7500/- (US $69).
Of the very limited 2000 Minted, 1750 was given to Buddha Sasana Ministry, leaving only 250 for CBSL archive and sale to Public. Demand was probably less because of price. The Buddha Sasana Ministry put them on sale but after limited sales due to poor marketing returned the remainder to CBSL which then put it again on sale including online in 2011 September. Two years after issue they were still available from CBSL at a fixed issue price.
Read my article, an edited version of which was published as Coins for Sambuddhatva Jayanti in the Sunday Times of 2011 May 22nd.
The coin was obtained from CBSL on 2011 May 16th and 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.