UK unveils first official coin commemorating Mahathma Gandhi's life
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London: The first official UK coin commemorating the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled by UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak to mark Diwali on Thursday. The new 5-pound commemorative Gandhi coin is said to build on the enduring relationship and cultural connections between the UK and India, as India celebrates its 75th year of Independence this year.
The 5-pound Gandhi coin is a non-circulating commemorative item, available to buy online from the Royal Mint. Available in a range of standards, including gold and silver, the new Gandhi coin is designed by Heena Glover and features an image of a lotus, India's national flower, alongside one of Gandhi's most famous quotes 'My life is my message'.
"We are proud to have struck this beautiful coin celebrating one of the world's most pioneering and influential leaders, Mahatma Gandhi" tweeted the official Twitter handle of Royal Mint on Thursday.
The coin which goes on sale on the UK Royal Mint's website from this week is part of Royal Mint's wider Diwali collection. The collection includes 1-gram and 5-gram gold bars in henna-style packaging, and the UK's first gold bar depicting Lakshmi the Hindu goddess of wealth. The 20-gram gold Lakshmi bar was designed in partnership with the Hindu community in South Wales, where the Royal Mint is based.
Rishi Sunak, UK's Indian-origin finance minister and the Master of the Mint in the UK told that the coin is a fitting tribute to an influential leader who inspired millions of people around the world. He also felt fantastic to have a UK coin commemorating Gandhi's remarkable life for the first time, reports PTI.
Last year, Sunak commissioned the new 'Diversity Built Britain' 50p coin following discussion with the 'We Too Built Britain' campaign, which works for fair representation of minority communities' contributions across all walks of life.
Around 10 million of the coins, which recognise and celebrate Britain's diverse history, went into circulation in October 2020.
