Vaishno Devi Shrine Board commemorative coin
{{Short description|Coin issued by the Government of India}}
{{Infobox coin
| Denomination = ₹5 and ₹10
| Obverse Design = Lettering of "भारत" on the left, "INDIA" on the right, Lion Capital of Ashoka at the center with the lettering "सत्यमेव जयते" below it. The rupee symbol (₹) and denomination (₹5 or ₹10) are placed below.
| Obverse Designer = Reserve Bank of India
| Country = {{Flag|India}}
| Diameter_mm = 23
| Composition = Nickel-brass
| Mass_g = 6.00
| Value = ₹5 (Five Indian Rupees)
| Reverse Design = Image of Mata Vaishno Devi at the center; inscription "श्री माता वैष्णो देवी श्राईन बोर्ड" above and "SHRI MATA VAISHNO DEVI SHRINE BOARD" below; year 2012 and "SILVER JUBILEE" beneath the image.
| Reverse Designer = Reserve Bank of India
| Years of Minting = 2012
| Reverse = Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Coin Reverse Image.jpg
}}
The commemorative coins on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board were issued by the Government of India in 2012 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Shrine Board.{{Cite web |title=Vaishno Devi shrine board's silver jubilee: PM releases coins |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/vaishno-devi-shrine-board-s-silver-jubilee-pm-releases-coins/story-eoaQd2DpiEB23YiNFncaUL.html}}{{Cite news |date=2013-05-21 |title=RBI to issue Rs 5 coins on Vaishno Devi Shrine Board's 25 years |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/rbi-to-issue-rs-5-coins-on-vaishno-devi-shrine-boards-25-years/articleshow/20175229.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-05-01 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}} These coins, typically issued in ₹5 and ₹10 denominations, are related to the Shrine, which is located in Jammu and Kashmir.{{Cite news |date=2014-04-24 |title=Vaishno Devi image on coin dragged to court; Centre, RBI asked to explain |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/vaishno-devi-image-on-coin-dragged-to-court-centre-rbi-asked-to-explain/story-kzOwFoyqLFR9OTZNPta8FM.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221026131558/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/vaishno-devi-image-on-coin-dragged-to-court-centre-rbi-asked-to-explain/story-kzOwFoyqLFR9OTZNPta8FM.html |archive-date=2022-10-26 |access-date=2025-05-01 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us}}
Design
The obverse of the coin features the Lion Capital of Ashoka Pillar at the center, with the inscription "सत्यमेव जयते" (Satyamev Jayate) positioned below it. The left edge of the coin has the word "भारत" (Bharat) in Devanagari script, while the right edge displays "INDIA" in English. Below the Lion Capital, the rupee symbol (₹) and the denomination in International Numerals (either 5 or 10) are noted, depending on the specific coin.{{Cite web |title=Coin-troversy |url=https://www.ndtv.com/mumbai-news/coin-troversy-526015 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Reserve Bank of India - Currency Press Releases |url=https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewCurrencyPressRelease.aspx?Id=28555 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.rbi.org.in}}
On the reverse, an image of Mata Vaishno Devi is centrally placed. Surrounding this image, the upper periphery features the inscription "श्री माता वैष्णो देवी श्राईन बोर्ड" (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board) in Devanagari script, while the lower periphery includes the English version, "SHRI MATA VAISHNO DEVI SHRINE BOARD". Below the image, the year "2012" is noted, followed by "SILVER JUBILEE" beneath it, marking the 25th anniversary of the Shrine Board.
Release
In January 2013, a set of commemorative coins was released by the then Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh. The event was attended by N. N. Vohra, the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and Chairman of the Board; Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy; Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister; Dr. Karan Singh, the ICCR President; Usha Vohra; T. K. A. Nair, Advisor to the Prime Minister; as well as the members of the Shrine Board.{{Cite web |last=Excelsior |first=Daily |date=2013-01-31 |title=PM releases commemorative coins of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine |url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/pm-releases-commemorative-coins-of-shri-mata-vaishno-devi-shrine/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Daily Excelsior |language=en-US}}
The coins, in denominations of ₹5 and ₹10, were issued for circulation, while the ₹25 coin was issued as a non-circulating commemorative coin. The coins were designed by the Reserve Bank of India.{{Cite web |last=Life |first=Kashmir |date=2013-02-01 |title=Prime Minister releases Coins on Silver Jubilee of SMVD Shrine Board |url=https://kashmirlife.net/prime-minister-releases-coins-on-silver-jubilee-of-smvd-shrine-board-18994/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Kashmir Life |language=en-GB}} The proposal for the coins was started by the Shrine Board, and their production was approved after discussions with the Ministry of Finance, first under Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and later under Finance Minister P. Chidambaram. The proposal also received approval from the Prime Minister’s Office. The Finance Ministry approved a plan to mint one billion coins, which was a large number for commemorative issues at the time.{{Cite news |title=Vaishno Devi shrine board's silver jubilee: PM releases coins |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/vaishno-devi-shrine-board-s-silver-jubilee-pm-releases-coins/story-eoaQd2DpiEB23YiNFncaUL.html}}