Mauritius 1000 Rupees 1978

History

1000 Rupees 1978, KM# 45, Mauritius, Independence of Mauritius, 10th Anniversary

Obverse. Photo © Numismatic Guaranty Company

Description

A limited quantity gold commemorative coin of Rs1000 denomination was issued in November 1978 to mark the 10th anniversary of the independence of Mauritius.

Mauritius gained independence from the United Kingdom on 12 March 1968. The independence process was the culmination of a long struggle involving a number of political parties. Most notably the Mauritius Labour Party (MLP) and the Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate (PMSD).

In 1960, Harold Macmillan had made his famous "Wind of Change Speech" in the Parliament of South Africa in Cape Town in which he acknowledged that the best option for Britain was to give complete independence to its colonies. Thus, since the late fifties, the way was paved for independence. The General Election was held in 1967 with the pro-independence coalition of political parties winning 54% of the vote. Following the 1967 election the newly formed Mauritian government government was formed and passed an independence bill in the Mauritian Parliament.: 102 Mauritius experienced a period of instability in the days running up to the declaration resulting in the 1968 Mauritian riots before order was restored by the British authorities. On 12 March 1968 independence was officially declared at a ceremony at the Champ de Mars Racecourse.

This is the first Mauritius coin not to bear the head of a British King or Queen for 100 years.

Obverse	Device and tools (watch, compass, telescope etc.) Glasses Person (politician, revolutionary, entrepreneur) Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Bust of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam 3/4 right, country name below. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (1900–1985) was a Mauritian politician, statesman and philanthropist. He was a leader in the Mauritian independence movement, and served as the first Chief Minister and Prime Minister of Mauritius, as well as its sixth Governor-General. He was the Chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity from 1976 to 1977. As the leader of the Labour Party, Ramgoolam fought for the rights of labourers and led Mauritius to independence in 1968. As Mauritius' first Prime Minister, he played a crucial role in shaping modern Mauritius' government, political culture and foreign policy. He worked for the emancipation of the Mauritian population, established free universal education and free health care services, and introduced old age pensions. He is known as the "Father of the Nation". His son, Navin Ramgoolam, has had three terms as Prime Minister of Mauritius. DR. THE RIGHT HON. SIR SEEWOOSAGUR RAMGOOLAM, Kt. • MAURITIUS •
Reverse	Construction (building, bridge etc.) Parliament Depicts the Legislative Assembly Building in Port-Louis enclosed by the inscriptions of the event above and date with the denomination in English below. The National Assembly (French: Assemblée nationale) is Mauritius's unicameral legislature, which was called the Legislative Assembly from 1968 until 1992, when the country became a republic. Prior to 1968 and under British rule it was known as the Legislative Council. The Constitution of Mauritius provides for the parliament of Mauritius to consist of the President and the National Assembly. The parliament of Mauritius is modelled after the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy, where members of parliament are voted in at regular general elections, on the basis of a first past the post system. The working language of the National Assembly is English. TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE 1978 ONE THOUSAND RUPEES
Edge	Reeded (milled)