Small Farmer Commemorative Coins : 1987

 

In the year 1987, a commemorative coin was issued honoring the small farmers of India. Most of the Political Leaders then did not realize the potential and contributions of the small farmers, they held majority of the land area and were strong pillars of support to boost the GDP of the country then. India was still an agriculturally driven economy.

This coin was issued on the 7^th World Food day. That is 16^th October 1987.

Rupee 1 Coin:

The reverse of this coin shows a farmer couple engaged in transplanting in a field, it had the words “SMALL FARMERS” in English,"छोटे किसान" (Chhote Kishan) in Hindi, inscribed on the periphery of the Coin and the F.A.O*. crest at the space above the farmers. The year of issue “1987” was inscribed in the lower end of the coin. (in the fields on which the farmers are workings on)

The obverse of this coin shows the Ashokan lion and the value '1' in International numerals on the center. In English "INDIA" and "RUPEE" appear on the right periphery the same words in Hindi  i.e. "भारत" and "रुपया" appear on the left. "सत्यमेव जयते"(Satyameva Jayate) in Hindi is shown just below the Ashokan Lion.  

*FAO stands for Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations established on the 16^th October, 1945, with the objective of eradicating hunger. Its Motto is Fiat Panis, which is Latin for, "let there be bread".

Other Information: 

Other denomination coins issued were 20 & 100, with the same inscriptions except for the value. The composition of the coins were

Denomination	Composition	Weight	Diameter in mm
100 Rupees	Silver 50 Copper 40 Nickel 5 Zinc 5	35g	44
20 Rupees	Copper Nickel	25g	39
1 Rupee	Copper Nickel	6g	26

 Mints at which the coin were minted

Rupee 1 : Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad  

Rupees 20 & 100 : Mumbai Mint.