Lion Types And die varieties in 2 rs Regular (National integration) coins, issued during 1992 – 2004:

Obverse Lion Types

And

die varieties

in hen-decagonal shaped (11 sided),

2 rs Regular (National integration)

coins,  issued during 1992 – 2004: 

i) REGULAR National integration COINS

The first 2 rs regular coin was issued in 1990. This coin was issued in Cupro-Nickel and circular in shape, weighing 8 gms. But this coin was not favorably accepted by general public. As its shape, size and weight was very similar to the 1 re CN coins issued during 1975 to 1982, people wrongly gave it to others as 1 re coin, thus incurring financial loss. As general public did not accept this coin, it was not minted in 1991.

 So in 1992, the 2 rs regular coin was issued in Cupro-Nickel with a 11 sided shape weighing 6 gms.

OBVERSE LION TYPES SEEN ON 2 R_S NI COINS MINTED BY INDIAN MINTS  

Big Sized Lion (Type – A):

In this coin the Lion height is 15 mm. Please mark the right side lion in this photo. The lion on the right side has 5 fur lines. The top 3 fur lines meet at a point on the periphery.

Note -- Ashish Parui reports 1992- Mumbai issue having A₁, A₂ and A₃ lions. But till today, I have not clearly understood the secrets of this type of classification. 

Medium Sized Lion (Type – B):

In this type of coin the Lion height is 14 mm. Please mark the lion on the right side of this coin photo. It has 4 fur lines. The top most fur line extends down wards, creating a curved boundary line. The bottom 3 fur lines meet the top line at different points on the periphery.

Types B₁ and B₂ is also reported.

Type AB lion is also reported. Here the lion height is 15 mm, same as the height of A lion. The lion design is similar to lion B. Hence it is called AB lion.  Tips to identify it  -- Please see the central lion. It has 5 numbers of vertical fur lines. On normal A lion 7-8 vertical fur lines are seen.

Small Sized Lion (Type – C): 

In this type of coin the Lion height is 13 mm. Please mark the right side of this photo. It has 5 fur lines. But all fur lines extend down wards from the neck, towards the lion’s leg. 

The Obverse with Lion type C is found with 3 varieties.

Type - C₁ – Here the denomination ‘2’ is a smaller one. The legend ‘SATYAMEVA JAYATE’ is closer to the lion base. Lion height = 13 mm

Type - C₂ – Here the denomination ‘2’ is a bigger one. The legend ‘SATYAMEVA JAYATE’ is far from lion base. Lion height = 13 mm

Type - C₃ – Similar to C2. Lion is taller. Lion height = 13.7 mm. Seen in 2003 issue of Hyderabad mint.

Small Sized Lion (Type – D): 

The Lion height is 13 mm. Almost same as Type – C₂. The difference only can be marked on the  central lion . The chest of the central lion shows cut lines on it.

List of Obv Lion varieties reported:

Mumbai – 1992(A,B,AB), 94(A,B), 95 (A,B,C₁), 96(B,C₁,C₂), 97(B,C₁,C₂,D),    98(B,C₁,D),99(C₁,D), 00(C₁,D), 01(C₁,D),03(C₁,C₂)                  

Kolkata – 1995(A,C₂), 98(A,C2,D), 99(A,C₂,D), 00(A,C₂), 01(A,C2), 02(A,C₂),03(A,C₁,C₂) 

Hyderabad – 1994(A,B), 95(A,B), 96(A,B,C₁), 97(A,C₂), 98(A,C₁,C₂,D), 99(C₂,D),00(C₁,C₂), 02(B,C₁,C₂), 03(C₁,C_2,C₃) 

Noida – 1994(A,B), 95(A,B), 98(B,C₂), 99(B,C₂), 00(C₁,C₂), 01(C₁,C₂), 02(C₁,C₂),  03(C₁,C₂)

 

REVERSE DIE VARIETIES SEEN ON 2 RS NI COINS MINTED BY INDIAN MINTS

Kolkata Mint --

2000 issue –

This issue is seen with the date (2000) either in bigger font or smaller font. --

Varieties seen --

i) Obv A lion + Rev 2000 in bigger font

ii) Obv A lion + Rev 2000 in smaller font

iii) Obv C₂ lion + Rev 2000 in smaller font 

2001 issue –

This issue is seen with different ‘1’ in the date (2001). 

Varieties seen—

i) ‘1’ is thicker and its tip is straight

ii) ‘1’ is thicker and its tip is curved

iii) ‘1’ is thinner and its tip is curved 

Hyderabad Mint —

1999 issue –

a) Font size in date—

This issue is seen with the year (1999) in bigger font and smaller font.

 Varieties seen—

i) Date (1999) in bigger font

ii) Date (1999) in smaller font

b) Types of Mint marks on Hyderabad issued coins of 1999 with small sized date—

   We find two types of mint marks on this coin. 

   i) Normal Mint mark – The normal mint mark on any Hyderabad minted coin is a 5 pointed star, the top arrow points upwards and the other 4 arrows, 2 of them point to left side and the other 2 point to right side. Please see the picture below.

  ii) Inverted Mint mark (ERROR)– Inverted mint mark is found on some 1999-small date—Hyd issued coins. Here the bottom arrow points downwards and the other 4 arrows, 2 of them point to left side and the other 2 point to right side. Please see the picture below.

c) Mint mark position and types seen on 1999 Hyderabad small date issues --,

On 1999 small font date issue, the normal mint mark is seen at different positions and sizes.

i) Normal star mint mark, size bigger or smaller

ii) Normal star mint mark, positioned either nearer to date or far from date

On  date in small font 1999 Hyd issue, the inverted mint mark is seen at different positions

i) Below date, under the first ‘9’ of 1999

ii) Below date, under the third ‘9’ of 1999

iii) Over date, over the ‘99’ of 1999

OBVERSE LION TYPES SEEN ON 2 RS NI COINS MINTED BY FOREIGN MINTS 

2 rs NI coins were also minted by some foreign mints during the period 1997 to 2000. 

1997- Seoul mint (South Korea), 1998 – Seoul mint (South Korea), Pretoria mint (South Africa), 1999 – Tower mint (UK), 2000 – Moscow mint, (Russia).

Lions on all foreign minted coins are similar to C lion. But some different types of lions are seen on some Pretoria minted and Moscow minted coins. These coins are very rare.

 

a) Rare lion seen on Pretoria minted coin—

b) Obverse die variety seen on Moscow minted coin (2000 issue)—

i) Rare Lion variety –

ii) Normal tall and short lion—

iii) Closed and open left side lion pedestal –

iv) Mint mark position— Either nearer to date or far from date—

v) Coins with wide and narrow rim  --

     The map of India is shorter(18.5 mm) in case of the coin with wide rim, where as the height of map of India is taller (19 mm) in case of the coin with narrow rim.

End Note—

Friends, I have tried my level best to furnish the facts, which I acquired from my coin collection and from some other reliable sources. But still I apprehend that some facts might not have been mentioned in this topic. 

          I will be highly thankful to my collector friends, who can point out any wrong facts mentioned in this topic, or about their new finds not mentioned here. 

         Thank you all for spending your valuable time reading this topic on Lion varieties and die varieties in 2 rupees National Integration (Hen-decagonal shaped) coins issued in India during 1992 to 2004.