Join me, this week, in a look at the 2nd Millennium (year 2000) coins of Southern Asia which is made up of the Indosphere countries Afghanistan, Balochistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Tibet. AFGHANISTAN: Guess what! Afghanistan only minted one coin in the year 2000. It was/is a 35mm, 0.4818 ASW, 500 Afghanis coin whose obverse bears the Afghanistan National Arms, and whose reverse is adorned with a beautiful Snow Leopard. I couldn't find a photo (the coin is a proof only authorization), but I located a photo of a Five Afganis coin with the National Arms on its obverse: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...1046&desc=Afghanistan km1046 5 Afghanis (2004) Before we leave Afghanistan's contribution to the year 2000 coinage, I will let you in on a tiny little secret (In 1999 Afghanistan created a 35mm Silver, 0.4766 ASW 500 Afghanis coin in proof as a tribute to the New Millenium). There is no photo (that I could find) to show you, but, this coin also bears the National Arms on the obverse. The reverse has text reading clockwise around the rim from 6:15 to 6:45 "THE BEGINNING OF THE THIRD MILLENNIUM." A stylized Globe Crowned in a radiant glory of sun beams floats effortlessly above a lake (or ocean/sea). To the left of the South Pole of the globe is the number 1900 and to the right of the South Pole is the number 2000. If you own a Krause Edition of The Standard Catalog of World Coins, you can see an illustration of the coin by turning the pages until you come to the last coin in the Afghanistan listings. BALOCHISTAN: Balochistan no longer exists as an independent entity. It used to cover a huge area, but has been broken up becoming parts of Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. BANGLADESH: Bangladesh did not produce coinage in the year 2000. BHUTAN: I could not find any Bhutan coins minted in the year 2000. BURMA: Burma is no longer a nation because on 18 June 1989, State Law and Order Restoration Council (SPDC) adopted the name "Union of Myanmar". This controversial name change was not recognized by SPDC opposition groups and many English-speaking nations. No coinage was produced by Myamar in 2000. CAMBODIA: No coins were produced by Cambodia in 2000. INDIA: In 2000, the lowest denomination minted by the Republic of India was/is this Stainless Steel 25 Paise were struck bearing the mint mark B, C, H, or N giving the numismatist four varieties from which to choose or the option of collecting all four. The type was 1st minted in 1988. The photo is of a '99: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...c=India Republic km54 25 Paise - Rhino (1988+) The next denomination struck in 2000 was a 22mm Stainless Steel 50 Paise which was 1st struck in '88. Our target year (2000) gives you an option of mint marks (B.C.H, N). Here's a 1994 representing the type: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...7-69&desc=India Republic km69 50 Paise (1988+) 5 different mint marks (B, K, C, H, N) are on the 2000 Stainless Steel Rupee whose type was 1st minted in '95. Here's a photo of a '99 representing the type: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...ia Republic km92.2 1 Rupee (1996+) plain edge Here's a change in type of coin, shape (11 sided) and denomination (Copper-nickel, 2 rupee) The 2000 bears 5 mint marks (B, C, H, N, R). The representative coin in the photo is dated 1998: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...lic km121.4 2 Rupees (1992-1996) (14mm column) Whoa!!! Another India 2 Rupees coin exists. A 2000 B and a 2000 C Copper-nickel tribute to "SUPREME COURT: 50 YEARS". Here's a photo:: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri... km291 2 Rupees (2000) Supreme Court of India Besides the regular mint marks (B, C, H, R and N) on the year 2000 Copper-nickel 5 Rupees with a security edge, the "C" (Calcutta) mint mark also has a variety 5 Rupees coin with a milled edge. Here's a representative coin (dated 1995) photo: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...154&desc=India Republic km154 5 Rupees (1992+) And 2000 saw another variety of the 5 Rupees (B mint mark) with the same design as the 2000 2 Rupees Coin. Remember that 2 Rupees coin India struck as a tribute to "SUPREME COURT 50 YEARS" in Copper-nickel with the two mint mark (B and C) varieties? India created a 50 Rupees tribute in Copper-nickel at the Bombay and Calcutta Mints. INDONESIA: 2000 coins of Indonesia saw only two being minted. One was/is 100 Rupiah struck in Aluminum. National Arms on obverse. The bird on the reverse is a Palm Cockatoo: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...10/89-61&desc=Indonesia km61 100 Rupiah (1999) The other coin struck was/is a Bi-metallic (Brass Center in a Copper-nickel Ring 1000 Rupiah whose type was first minted in 1993 as a business strike coin. Look at the photo and mentally change the date from 1996 to 2000: http://worldcoingallery.com/countri...=Indonesia km56 1000 Rupiah (1993+) Palm tree MALAYSIA: A Bronze Clad Steel Sen was the lowest denomination minted by Malaysia in 2000. Here is the definitive type coin: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img2/116-49&desc=Malaysia km49 1 Sen (1989+) Coppert-nickel Five Sen with a top on the reverse was the next denomination struck in 2000. The '97 dated 5 Sen is representative of the type: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img2/116-50&desc=Malaysia km50 5 Sen (1989+) Copper-nickel Ten Sen: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img2/116-51&desc=Malaysia km51 10 Sen (1989+) Copper-nickel 20 Sen: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img2/116-52&desc=Malaysia km52 20 Sen (1989+) Copper-nickel 50 Sen: http://worldcoingallery.com/countries/coin.php?image=img2/116-53&desc=Malaysia km53 50 Sen (1989+) Myanmar I couldn't find any coins dated 2000 minted by, or for Myanmar. Please comment, correct errors or post link to coin photos I couldn't find... Clinker
