Department of Economic Affairs (Union Government) and Reserve Bank of India RBI regrettably did not make commemorative silver-alloy coins issued on 150th birth-anniversary of MK Gandhi on 02.10.2019 available for general public at face-value evidently because metal-cost in a coin was multiple times the face-value of just rupees 150, unlike on 02.10.1969 on occasion of Gandhi birth-centenary when such silver-coins were made available for general public at the then face-value since metal-value of a silver-alloy coin at that time was much lower than the then face-value of rupees ten. This is despite that fact that both RBI and Department of Economic Affairs were cautioned in advance through repeated submissions made in advance with last one posted at various portals on 26.08.2019. Silver-alloy coins in fact are for privileged ones sitting on dais to commemorate the occasion that too totally free, and not for general public.
This practice should be reformed for future when silver-alloy coins may be having face-value of rupees 1000 packed in serial-numbered tamperproof-packing to avoid chances of fake coins to be available for general public right from date of issue through convenient centers including all RBI offices and philatical counters apart from selected post-offices and bank-branches.
Even now, it should be arranged that at least coin-sets comprising of sliver-alloy coins presently sold only through advance-booking to be delivered after many months, may be made available for open sale without requiring cumbersome procedure of advance-booking through convenient centers including all RBI offices and philatical counters apart from selected post-offices and bank-branches with an economy single coin-pack at price of rupees 1000 in serial-numbered tamperproof packing so that less-affording ones may also get silver-alloy commemorative coin.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL