Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 50 Paise 1985, KM# 67, India, Republic, Assassination of Indira Gandhi
  • 50 Paise 1985, KM# 67, India, Republic, Assassination of Indira Gandhi
Description

Indira Gandhi, India’s third Prime Minister, was assassinated on October 31, 1984, in New Delhi by her Sikh bodyguards, Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, in retaliation for Operation Blue Star, a military action she ordered in June 1984 to remove Sikh separatists from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The operation, seen by many Sikhs as an attack on their holiest site, fueled resentment in the community. On the morning of her assassination, Gandhi was shot while walking to her office. Her death led to widespread anti-Sikh riots, resulting in thousands of deaths and leaving a lasting impact on India’s communal and political landscape.

Obverse

Depicts the State Emblem of India with Satyameva Jayate below surrounded by the country name and value.

The State Emblem of India, adopted on January 26, 1950, is an adaptation of the Lion Capital of Ashoka from the Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath, dating back to 250 BCE. It features four Asiatic lions standing back to back, symbolizing power, courage, pride, and confidence, though only three are visible in the two-dimensional depiction. The lions rest on a circular abacus with carvings of a bull, horse, lion, and elephant, separated by Dharma Chakras representing righteousness and progress.

Below the abacus is the motto "Satyameva Jayate" (Sanskrit: "Truth Alone Triumphs"), taken from the Mundaka Upanishad. This emblem, a symbol of India’s sovereignty and heritage, is prominently used on government seals, currency, and official documents.

भारत INDIA
सत्यमेव जयते
पैसे 50 PAISE

Reverse

Depicts a portrait of Indira Gandhi, date and mintmark (if any) below.

Indira Gandhi (née Nehru; 1917–1984) was the first and, to date, the only female Prime Minister of India, serving from 1966 to 1977 and again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. Daughter of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, she was a central figure in Indian politics and played a key role in shaping the country's modern political and economic landscape. Known for her decisive leadership, she oversaw significant events like the Green Revolution, which improved India's agricultural output, and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, which strengthened India’s regional influence. Her tenure was also marked by controversies, including the Emergency (1975–1977), during which civil liberties were suspended and political opponents were imprisoned, damaging her democratic credentials.

इंदिरा गांधी
INDIRA GANDHI
1917-1984

Edge
Characteristics
Type Commemorative Issue (Circulating)
Material Cupronickel
Weight 5 g
Diameter 24 mm
Thickness 1.5 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Alt # KM# 67.1, KM# 67.2
Mints
Calcutta Mint (no mintmark)
Hyderabad Mint (★)
Mumbai Mint (B)
Mumbai Mint (♦)

Related coins

Assassination of Indira Gandhi

Cupronickel, 12.6 g, ⌀ 31.1 mm