667) Tatya Tope (1814-1859): A commemorative Proof Coin set of Rs.200/- (Quaternary Silver) and Rs.10/- (Bi-metallic)issued on his 200th Birth Anniversary in 2015 by the India Government Mint, Kolkata:

667) Tatya Tope (1814-1859): A commemorative Proof Coin set of Rs.200/- (Quaternary Silver) and Rs.10/- (Bi-metallic)issued on his 200th Birth Anniversary in 2015 by the India Government Mint, Kolkata:

I have received this elegant Proof Coin set of Rs.200/- (Quaternary Silver) and Rs.10/- (Bimetallic)from the India Government Mint, Kolkata on 03.02.2018 which commemorates the 200th Birth anniversary of Tatya Tope, one of the prominent generals in the First War of Indian Independence fought in 1857.

About Tatya Tope:

Ramachandra Pandurang Tope, also known as Tatya Tope or Tantia Tope or Tantia Topi was one of the most notable India Freedom fighters and a general in the First war of Indian Independence fought in 1857 against the British East India Company (BEIC).

Even though he had no formal military training, he was one of the most effective generals whose guerilla tactics/strategies terrified the British armies and caused them many a sleepless night.

He was born in 1814 in Village Yewle in the District of Nashik, in the Indian State of Maharashtra and was the only son of Pandurang Rao Tope (Pandurang Tryambak Bhat) and his wife Rukhminibai. His father was an important noble at the Court of Peshwa Baji Rao II.

Tatya Tope was an intelligent and a quiet man with a balanced disposition. 

He was a close friend and right hand man of Nana Saheb, the Peshwa's adopted son.

In 1851, when Dalhousie deprived Nana Saheb of his father's pension Tatya Tope became a sworn enemy of the British.

In May 1857, Tatya Tope won over the Indian troops of the BEIC at Kanpur and commanded the Freedom Fighter's troops. He won a battle against the British troops, who regrouped in numerically superior numbers and forced Tatya to effect a strategic withdrawal.

Later, he joined forces with Rani Lakshmi Bai, the ruler of Gwalior and led the Freedom Fighters troops in Bundelkhand. Rani Lakshmi Bai and Tatya Tope were childhood friends.

Once again, his troops fought fiercely against a numerically superior British force at Betwa and Kalpi and he withdrew to Gwalior.

At Gwalior, Tatya Tope with the support of Rani Lakshmi Bai's troops, forced the British General Wyndham to retreat from the city of Gwalior, seized Gwalior and  he declared Nana Saheb as the Peshwa.

Before he could consolidate his position, he was defeated in a battle in which Rani Lakshmi Bai was martyred while fighting valiantly with the British Hussars. Tatya Tope arranged for her last rites to be performed, as it was her last wish that the British soldiers should not capture her body.

After Gwalior was overrun by a 20 to 1 numerically superior British force, Tatya Tope carried on a guerilla campaign against the British for over one year and became a scourge of British interests everywhere his forces attacked.

In all, he fought about 150 battles against the British and accounted for over 10,000 British soldiers killed or captured. He strode like a colossus all over - from Kanpur to Rajputana and Central India and the First War of Indian Independence could make its impact only due to his superior leadership.

It was due to the treachery of one Man Singh, the Raja of Narwar, a former commander in the Gwalior army and Tatya Tope's friend, who betrayed this War hero after the British enticed Man Singh with several lucrative estates and monetary rewards leading to Tatya Tope's capture by the British and his subsequent execution and martyrdom on 18.04.1859.

The Commemorative Coins:

The Coin Album in which the coins are contained shows an portrait of Tatya Tope at left. The Album is titled "Tatya Tope Ki 200Vin Jayanti" (in Hindi) and "200th Birth anniversary of Tatya Tope" (in English). 

On the lower periphery is mentioned "Smarak Sikke"(in Hindi) and "Commemorative Coins" (in English). On the extreme right bottom is mentioned the coin quality "Proof Set".

This page of the coin album exhibits the Obverse faces of the two coins - Rs.200/- and Rs.10/-.It also gives the specifications of the coins in Hindi.

This page of the coin album exhibits the Reverse faces of the two coins -Rs.200/- and Rs.10/- . It also gives the specifications of the coins in English

                     The Obverse of the Rs.200/- coin.

On the Obverse of the Rs.200/- coin is inscribed on the left periphery the issuing country's name "Bharat" (in Hindi) and on the right periphery "India" (in English).

The Ashok Capitol  of the three Lions of the legendary Emperor of  Ancient India and the Govt. of India's emblem is in the top centre together with the "slogan - Satyamev Jayate" (meaning Truth Always Prevails".

The denomination of the coin is preceded by the Rupee symbol and ends with the numeral "200".

                       The Reverse of the Rs.200/- Coin

It shows a portrait of Tatya Tope in the centre and the peripheral inscriptions are - "Tatya Tope Ki 200Vin Jayanti" (in Hindi) and "200th Birth Anniversary of Tatya Tope" (in English). The year of issue is mentioned as "2015". Notice that there is no mint mark, as Kolkata Mint traditionally issues coins without any mint mark.

The specifications of this coin are:
Metal Composition: Quaternary Alloy: Silver - 50%, Copper - 40%, Nickel - 5%, Zinc - 5%; Shape: Circular: Outside Diameter: 44.0 mm; Standard Weight: 35.0 grams; No. of Serrations: 200; Mint: India Government Mint, Kolkata.

As in the Rs.200/- coin, the Obverse of the Rs.10/-coin exhibits the emblem of the Government of India, the name of the issuing country d the denomination of the coin - "Rs.10". 

                  The Reverse of the Rs.10/- coin

It shows a portrait of Tatya Tope in the centre and the peripheral inscriptions are - "Tatya Tope Ki 200Vin Jayanti" (in Hindi) and "200th Birth Anniversary of Tatya Tope" (in English). The year of issue is mentioned as "2015". There is no mint mark as Kolkata Mint traditionally issues coins without any mint mark.

The specifications of this coin are:
Metal Composition: Outer Ring: (Aluminium Bronze): Copper- 92%, Aluminium - 6%, Nickel - 2 %; Centre Piece: (Cupro-Nickel): Copper - 75 %, Nickel - 25%; Shape: Circular; Outside Diameter: 27.0 mm; Standard Weight: 7.71 grams; Mint: India Government Mint, Kolkata.