Government to Issue ₹100 Commemorative Coin to Mark Birth Centenary of Legendary Playback Singer Mohammed Rafi

To mark birth centenary of legendary playback singer late Mohammed Rafi, Government has decided to issue a commemorative coin with the denomination of ₹100

The government has decided to issue a commemorative coin of ₹100 denomination to mark the birth centenary of legendary playback singer late Mohammed Rafi. Though commemorative coins are considered legal tender, they are not released for general circulation. One can source them from the specified agencies.

As per a notification, the shape will be circular with an outside diameter of 44 millimeters. The number of serrations will be 200. The metal composition will be a quaternary alloy with a composition of silver (50 per cent), copper (40 per cent), nickel (05 per cent) and zinc (05 per cent).

Both the faces of the coins will bear the lion capital of Ashoka Pillar in the centre with the legend ‘Satyamev Jayate’ inscribed below, flanked on the left periphery with the word ‘Bharat’ in Devnagri script and on the right periphery with the word ‘India’ in English.

On the obverse side, the face of the coin will bear the Rupee symbol ‘₹’’ and denominational value of ‘100’ in the international numerals below the lion capital. On the reverse, this face of coin shall bear the image of MOHAMMED RAFI in the centre of the coin. The inscription “Mohammed Rafi Ki Janam Shatabdi” shall be written in Devnagari script on the upper periphery and the inscription “BIRTH CENTENARY OF MOHAMMED RAFI” in English is depicted on the lower periphery of the coin. The year “1924-2024” in international numeral shall be written below the image of MOHAMMED RAFI.

Born on December 24, 1924, at Kotla Sultan Singh, near Amritsar, Punjab, and died on July 31, 1980, at Bombay aka Mumbai, Rafi was a legendary Indian playback singer who recorded more than 25,000 film songs in a career spanning almost 40 years. He was known for his versatility and vocal range. While he is best known for his work in Bollywood, Rafi sang in several Indian languages other than Hindi, including his native Punjabi.

On his centenary birth anniversary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked that Mohammed Rafi Sahab was a musical genius whose cultural influence and impact transcends generations. “Remembering the legendary Mohammed Rafi Sahab on his 100th birth anniversary. He was a musical genius whose cultural influence and impact transcends generations. Rafi Sahab’s songs are admired for their ability to capture different emotions and sentiments. His versatility was extensive as well. May his music keep adding joy in the lives of people!,” Modi wrote in a post on X.