Release of CWG coins by RBI has come too late

RESERVE BANK of India (RBI) has announced its decision to release new CWG 2010 coins now on October 10, one week after the start of games that too without indicating any date of release of new coins. Is it a proper way to commemorate an important event?

These coins should have been issued on the day of opening ceremony itself with plenty of coins and coin-sets available for foreign players and delegates at Games Village. Even higher-priced silver-alloy and gold coins could have been minted for the very special occasion.

Coin-sets should be made available at all RBI offices, philately counters and selected bank-branches (both private and public) right from date of release of new coins abolishing cumbersome and costly procedure of advance-booking of coin-sets that too after some years of release of coins thereby killing very purpose of commemorating an occasion. For simplicity only one highest-priced ‘Proof’ category of coin-sets comprising of all denominations of new-released coins should be there abolishing other categories including ‘uncirculated’ one.

All new coins including higher-priced silver-alloy coins should be available at face-value right on date of release itself from such convenient centres. Popularising coin-collection on lines of philately, will give net revenue-earning because such coin-sets never come in actual circulation. Educational institutions and others can be motivated to give coin-sets as prizes in functions instead of trophies and momentos.