Coins
In 1872, copper ¼, ½, 1 and 5 cents coins dated 1870 were introduced, followed in 1892 by silver 10, 25 and 50 cents. Production of the ¼ cent ceased in 1904. The large, copper 5 cents coins was replaced in 1909 by a much smaller cupro-nickel coin which was square with rounded corners. In 1919, the fineness of silver used was reduced from .800 to .550.
Between 1940 and 1944, a wholesale change in the coinage was carried out. Production of the ½ cent ceased in 1940, with bronze 1 cent introduced in 1942. Nickel-brass replaced cupro-nickel in the 5 cents in the same year and replaced silver in the 25 and 50 cents in 1943. In 1944, nickel-brass, scalloped shaped 2 and 10 cents coins were introduced.
In 1963, a new coinage was introduced which omitted the monarchs portrait. Coins issued were aluminium 1 and 2 cents, nickel brass 5 and 10 cents and cupro-nickel 25 and 50 cents and 1 rupee. In 1978, aluminium replaced nickel-brass in the 5 and 10 cents. Cupro-nickel 2 rupees and aluminium-bronze 5 rupees coins were introduced in 1984.
The obverse of the coins issued since 1963 carry the Armorial Ensign of Sri Lanka. The reverse of the coin the value in numerals and in Sinhala, Tamil and English below and year of issue at the bottom with SRI LANKA in Sinhala on top. On 14 December 2005, the Sri Lanka central bank issued a new series of coins in the denominations of 25 and 50 cents, 1, 2 and 5 Rupees. The lower denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 cents, although legal tender, are not seen in circulation and not in general issued by banks.
The observe and reverse designs of the new coins remained identical to the existing circulating coins of the same denominations. However their weights and alloys have been changed for easy identification purposes.
On 5 April 2010 Sri Lanka replaced the 10-Rupee note with a coin.
| Current Coins of Sri Lanka | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Obverse | Reverse | Metal | Dimensions | Weight | Thickness | Year | |
| 25 cents | Country name, date and value | Armorial Ensign | Copper plated Steel | 16.0 mm | 1.68 g | 1.2 mm | 2005 | ||
| 50 cents | 18.0 mm | 2.5 g | 1.4 mm | ||||||
| One Rupee | Brass plated Steel | 20.0 mm | 3.65 g | 1.7 mm | |||||
| Two Rupees | Nickel-plated Steel | 28.5 mm | 7.0 g | 1.5 mm | |||||
| Five Rupees | Brass plated Steel | 23.5 mm | 7.7 g | 2.7 mm | |||||
| Ten Rupees | Nickel-plated Steel | 26.4 mm (Hendecagon) | 8.36 g | 2.1 mm | 2009 | ||||
Read more about this topic: Sri Lankan Rupee
Famous quotes containing the word coins:
“A war undertaken without sufficient monies has but a wisp of force. Coins are the very sinews of battles.”
—François Rabelais (1494–1553)
“No Time, spoke the clocks, no God, rang the bells,
I drew the white sheet over the islands
And the coins on my eyelids sang like shells.”
—Dylan Thomas (1914–1953)