The Indian government has announced the issuance of a commemorative coin to celebrate the birth centenary of the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who served as Prime Minister. Although commemorative coins are officially recognized as legal tender, they are not meant for general circulation and can be obtained through designated channels.
This ₹100 coin will be crafted from pure silver, featuring a diameter of 44 millimeters and 200 serrations, with a total weight of 40 grams.
On the front side, the coin will showcase the Lion Capital of the Ashoka Pillar at its center, accompanied by the inscription “Satyamev Jayate” underneath. The left edge will have the word “Bharat” inscribed in Devanagari script, while the right edge will display “INDIA” in English. Additionally, it will include the Rupee symbol “₹” and the denomination “100” depicted in international numerals below the Lion Capital.
The reverse side will feature an image of the late Vajpayee. Above the image, the phrase “Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Birth Centenary” will be inscribed in Devanagari script, while the corresponding English inscription will appear at the bottom. The year “2024” will be positioned below Vajpayee’s image in international numerals.
It’s significant to note that Vajpayee was born on December 25, and he held the position of Prime Minister for three non-consecutive terms: first for 13 days in 1996, then for 13 months from 1998 to 1999, and finally for a full term from 1999 to 2004. A prominent member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he was the first prime minister not affiliated with the Indian National Congress to complete a full term in office.
Vajpayee had a long and distinguished career in politics, representing the Indian Parliament for over fifty years. He was elected to the Lok Sabha ten times and to the Rajya Sabha twice, serving as the Member of Parliament for Lucknow until he stepped down from politics in 2009 due to health issues.
During his administration, India conducted the Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998. Vajpayee also made efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties with Pakistan, famously traveling to Lahore by bus to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Following the Kargil War in 1999, he aimed to restore relations by engaging with President Pervez Musharraf, inviting him to India for a summit in Agra.
In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government declared December 25, Vajpayee’s birthday, as Good Governance Day. Vajpayee was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, in 2015 by then-President Pranab Mukherjee. He passed away on August 16, 2018, after suffering from age-related health issues.
