Mauritius 100 Rupees 2001

History

100 Rupees 2001, KM# 65, Mauritius, 100th Anniversary of the Arrival of Mahatma Gandhi in Mauritius

Obverse. Image Courtesy of Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS.com)

Description

A limited number of silver commemorative coins with a denomination of Rs100 in proof condition were issued in November 2001 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's arrival in Mauritius.

In October 2001, the nation commemorated the centenary of Gandhi's visit to Mauritius. It is now widely acknowledged that Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi's visit had a profound and lasting impact on the country's history. In his famous autobiography, "The Story of My Experiments with Truth," Gandhi noted that during his three-week stay in Mauritius, he became well-acquainted with the local conditions of the colony. This familiarity was the main reason why, in 1906, Gandhi encouraged Manilal Doctor to go to Mauritius during a brief meeting in London. It is clear that the situation of Indo-Mauritians and Indian indentured laborers in the colony deeply concerned the apostle of non-violence even years after he left Mauritius.

In the early 1900s, Gandhi played a key role in abolishing the indentured labor system in the British Empire. In a 1911 letter to Gokhale, Gandhi mentioned that Manilal Doctor was heading to India to attend an important Indian National Congress meeting, where he planned to campaign for a resolution condemning the indentured labor system in all British territories. Gandhi supported Manilal's initiative, recognizing that he had witnessed the harsh living and working conditions of indentured workers in Mauritius.

Obverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Dodo, Deer Coat of arms Mauritius Depicts the coat of arms of the Republic of Mauritius with the country name above, date of issue year and denomination in English letters below. The coat of arms of Mauritius was designed by the Mayor of Johannesburg in 1906, Johann Van Der Puf consists of a Dodo Bird and Sambur Deer which symbolize the extinct and present wildlife; they support two sugar canes indicating the importance of sugar for the local economy. In the lower right quarter is a key and on the left-hand side is a white star, which is referred to in the Latin motto “Stella Clavisque Maris Indici” meaning “Star and Key of the Indian Ocean". MAURITIUS STELLA CLAVISQUE MARIS INDICI 30 OCTOBER 2001 ONE HUNDRED RUPEES
Reverse	Device and tools (watch, compass, telescope etc.) Glasses Person (politician, revolutionary, entrepreneur) Mahatma Gandhi Depicts a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi three-quarters left, wearing glasses encircled by his name above and inscription of the event below. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who used nonviolent resistance to lead India's successful struggle for independence from British rule. His methods also inspired civil rights and freedom movements around the world. Gandhi's unwavering commitment to peace and truth, along with his focus on Satyagraha, or non-violent resistance, motivated millions. His followers referred to him as "Mahatma," meaning "great soul" in Sanskrit, a name by which he is still widely recognized today. Gandhi's birthday, October 2nd, is observed in India as Gandhi Jayanti, a national holiday, and globally as the International Day of Nonviolence. Often referred to as the Father of the Nation in India, Gandhi was affectionately called "Bapu," which means "father" in Gujarati. · MAHATMA GANDHI · CENTENARY OF ARRIVAL IN MAURITIUS
Edge	Reeded (milled)

100 Rupees

Buy Swap

2001 Mauritius

100th Anniversary of the Arrival of Mahatma Gandhi in Mauritius

KM# 65

Characteristics

Type	Commemorative Issue (Non-circulating)
Material	Silver
Fineness	0.925
Weight	36.76 g
Diameter	44 mm
Thickness	2.7 mm
Shape	round
Alignment	Medal
Mint	Paris Mint (A)