2012 - 150 Years of Kuka Movement - VIP and Proof Sets

This post gives the details of the Proof Set. For UNC set refer to the next post

Coins of Rs 100 and Rs 5 were released to commemorate the 150 Years of Kuka Movement.

Release Function:

A great patriot remembered:Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram releasing a commemorative coin on Satguru Ram Singh in New Delhi on Friday to mark the 150 years of the Kuka Movement.- Photo: S. Subramanium

Kuka Movement in the Punjab (1860-1872) -It was originally founded by Bhagat Jawahar Mal in 1840.His main aim was to purify the Sikh religion by removing all the abuses, superstitions and ill-practices from it. But after the British annexation of Punjab revival of Sikh power and sovereignty became the major objective of the Kukas.This caused a great deal of anxiety in the British official ranks. So they took various measures between 1863 and 1872 and were finally able to suppress this movement

More Photos from the Sri Bhaini Sahib website

The Design without the Rupee Symbol, however the current coins released are with Rupee Symbol

Times of India
Ludhiana’s Jeevandeep designs Kuka revolt coin

Naveen Kalia, TNN Oct 8, 2012, 03.04AM IST

LUDHIANA: When Union finance minister P Chidambaram recently released a commemorative Rs 100 coin on 150 years of Kuka Movement, there were few who knew that the currency had been designed by city's own Jeevandeep Singh.

A resident of Chandigarh Road, Jeevandeep designed the coin in 2009 and handed it over to vice-chairman of Kuka Martyr Memorial Trust, Sant Surinder Singh Namdhari. Jeeavandeep said after a delay of three years, central government finally released this coin on October 5.

"In 2009, Sant Surinder Singh Namdhari asked me to design a coin dedicated to Kuka Movement. He also gave me literature on the subject, which I read carefully," he said.

The 35-year-old numismatist said he was asked to highlight various aspects of the movement and he took the help of Chandigarh-based artist Sikander Singh for making sketches. "It took us one month to make final design and after completing work, I handed it over to Sant Surinder Singh Namdhari... who gave it to the government," the proud Ludhianvi said.

Talking about the design, Namdhari said they wanted to highlight the contribution of Kuka Movement and Satguru Ram Singh against the British Empire.

"We came to know about Jeevandeep's numismatic skills and we gave him the responsibility. He did a commendable job," he added.

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The Kuka Movement Coins were earlier to be released in the Year 2007:
Below is the press release in 2007;
The Minister for Tourism and Culture Smt. Ambika Soni has said that an event connected with Kuka Movement has been included in the suggested list of Anniversaries to be observed during the commemoration year 2007-08 for the 150th Anniversary of First War of the Independence/ related events. Indian Council of Historical Research who have vetted the list of events have given the date of the event as 20.4.1872. The suggested list has been circulated to all State/ Union Territories Governments for organizing function in association with all sections of the society. The venue of the event is Delhi and Govt. of NCT of Delhi is to take further action. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today she said, the Government of India has also released a sum of Rs. One crore for the raising of Kuka Martyrs Memorial at Malerkotla during 2007-08.

VVIP Set:

Coins of Rs 100 and Rs 5 in Acrylic Stand in wooden Box

Image Credits: Coin Shoppe

VIP Set:

Coins of Rs 100 and Rs 5 in Acrylic Plate in wooden Box

 Image Credits: Coin Shoppie

Proof Set

Coins of Rs 100 and Rs 5

The Coins of Rs 100 and Rs 5

Strangely the mint mark has a missing leg on "M". Not sure how many others have received such a coin