2014 - SRI LANKA - 500 Rupee
Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala 150th

SPECIFICATIONS Denomination Rupee 500/- Alloy Silver (0.925Ag) Diameter 38.61 mm Thickness 3.0? mm Weight 28.28 gms Shape Round Edge Milled DieAxis 0° Issue 1500 Mint Kremnica, Slovakia
KM# 1??

Obverse : At center portrait facing left. 1864 - 2014 below with large numeric 150 with 6 arrow heads on either side pointing towards it. ශ්‍රිමත් අනගාරික ධර්මපාල in Sinhala on top சிறிமத் அநகாரிக தர்மபால in Thamil on right and SRIMATH ANAGARIKA DHARMAPALA on left within a circle of petals along the periphery with raised rim.
Reverse : The large numeral denomination 500 with රුපියල් පන්සියයයි in Sinhala, ஐந்நூறு ரூபாய் in Thamil, and FIVE HUNDRED RUPEES in English in 3 lines below. The country name ශ්‍රී ලංකා in Sinhala, centered on top, இலங்கை in Thamil on left and SRI LANKA on right, the year 2014 of issue at the bottom with 6 arrow heads on either side pointing towards it.

The CBSL Press release says it was issued in recognition of his national service.

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 red leatherette covered 6.5cm square spring hinged presentation box, with white satin inside cover. A printed numbered Certificate of Authenticity contains the specifications and the text in English, Sinhala, and Tamil.

This Rs 500 coin was expected to 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 2014 December 24^th. On 2014 December 23rd 16:15 a Press Release was E-mailed to media, and published online News by LBO soon after. Just 2.5 hour later an email was sent to media saying the event was "postponed due to unavoidable circumstances" and the Press Release was not put online at cbsl.gov.lk website.

After the change of Presidency on 2015 January 8^th it was presented by Hon. Minister of Finance, Ravi Karunanayake to Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi at the Maha Bodhi Society, Colombo, during his state visit to Sri Lanka on 2015 March 13^th.

Four months later according to CBSL Press Release it was presented to the President Mithripala Sirisena when he visited CBSL. These Presentations use a special box much larger than sold to public.

It was sold to public at CBSL Economic History Museum from 2015 March 16^th for the issue price was Rs 8700/- (US $67).

See my article submited to the sundaytimes.

Most portraits have Anagarika Dharmapala facing right or forward. Who requested the commorative coin has not been revealed.

The coin was obtained from CBSL on 2015 March 16^th and scanned at 600 dpi and the images are displayed at 254 dpi. Also displayed above are scans of Artwork sent to Kremnica Mint, included in CBSL Press release.