India media is confused in making general public thrilled about new-to-be issued silver-alloy commemorative coin to be issued on 30.12.2018 on occasion of 75th anniversary of tricolor-hoisting by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose with 50-percent silver in a coin weighing 35 gms to be available at its face-value of just rupees 75 for silver-content worth approximately rupees 700.
But bitter fact is that general public is kept out of such celebrations through issue of commemorative coins, because silver-alloy coins are now not issued to general public on its face-value. Silver-alloy commemorative coins for first time after independence issued on 02.10.1969 to commemorate Gandhi Birth Centenary was available at face-value of rupees ten at a time when value of silver-content in the coin was much lower than rupees ten. These coins and their coin-sets were issued to general public right from date of issue on 02.10.1969.
System has now been changed when face-value of silver-alloy coins is much-much less than the silver-content of the coin, evidently doing away with system of providing commemorative coins at face-value to general public. System adopted in the year 1969 should be restored by having face-value of silver-alloy coins higher than the silver content so that these may be made available to general public on face value right from date of issue. Different categories of plastic-packed sets of commemorative coins should be merged by having one single category of Proof-sets with coins of all denominations issued on the occasion abolishing category of uncirculated coin-sets t be available through bank-branches, RBI offices and philatical centres right from date of issue.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL