Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 2 Rupee 2003, KM# 1151.1, Nepal, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah
  • 2 Rupee 2003, KM# 1151.1, Nepal, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah
Description

Gyanendra Shah (born 7 July 1947) reigned as the last King of Nepal from 2001 to 2008 and is also known as the world's last Hindu King. His reign began due to the 2001 Nepalese royal massacre.

Gyanendra's second reign was marked by constitutional turmoil. His predecessor King Birendra had established a constitutional monarchy in which he delegated policy to a representative government. The growing insurgency of the Nepalese Civil War during King Gyanendra's reign interfered with elections of representatives. After several delays in elections, King Gyanendra suspended the constitution and assumed direct authority in February 2005, asserting that it would be a temporary situation to suppress the Maoist insurgency. In the face of broad opposition, he restored the previous parliament in April 2006. His reign ended approximately two years later, when the Nepalese Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a republic and abolished the monarchy.

Obverse

Traditional square design includes images of Padma (lotus), Chakra, Moon, Sun, Shankha (conch shell) and Gada (mace). Lettering is "His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah", date below.

The Sudarshana Chakra is a spinning, disk-like weapon with 108 serrated edges used by the Hindu god Vishnu.

Padma (Nelumbo nucifera), the sacred lotus, is an aquatic plant that plays a central role in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism.

Shankha, translated from Tibetan is literally “white conch”, is a trumpet formed from a white conch shell of the species Turbinella pyrum, from the Indian Ocean. The conch shell of ritual and religious importance in both Hinduism and Buddhism.

The gada is a blunt mace or club from India. Made either of wood or metal, it consists essentially of a spherical head mounted on a shaft, with a spike on the top. The gada is the main weapon of the Hindu god Hanuman.

श्री श्री
श्री ५ वीरेन्द्र
वीर विक्रम
शाह देव
२० ६०

Reverse

Janaki Mandir Temple above value, surrounded by the temple name, state name and value in Devanagari.

Janaki Mandir (Nepali: जानकी मन्दिर) is a Hindu temple in Janakpur in the Mithila region of Nepal, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Sita.

It is an example of Hindu-Koiri Nepali architecture. It is often considered the most important model of Koiri architecture in Nepal. Fully built in bright white and constructed in an area of 4,860 sq. feet in a mixed style of Mughal and Koiri domes. It is a three-storied structure made entirely of stone and marble. All its 60 rooms are decorated with the flag of Nepal, colored glass, engravings, and paintings, with beautiful lattice windows and turrets.

The temple is popularly known as the Nau Lakha Mandir (meaning "nine lakhs"). The cost for the construction of the temple was about the same amount of money: rupees nine lakhs or nine hundred thousand, hence the name. Queen Vrisha Bhanu of Tikamgarh, India built the temple in 1910 AD.

जानकी मन्दिर

नेपाल रूपैयाँ

Edge

2 Rupee

Magnetic
KM# 1151.1
Characteristics
Material Brass Plated Steel
Weight 5.07 g
Diameter 25 mm
Thickness 1.6 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Kathmandu Mint

Related coins

Brass Plated Steel, 5 g, ⌀ 24.93 mm