COMMEMORATIVE COIN SERIES- RS.5 (CU NI) BALA GANGADHAR TILAK JI COIN-DETAILS &ESTIMATES

 In commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the Government of India issued a ₹5 commemorative coin on 23 July 2007 for general circulation. Shortly after its release, it was observed that the inscription “Bal Gangadhar तिलकजी” appeared on the coin, where “ji” is an honorific suffix. This led to objections from certain leaders and scholars, who pointed out that such an honorific had not been used on earlier commemorative coins, even those issued in memory of national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi or Jawaharlal Nehru. As a result, the minting of the original variety was halted, and the coining die was modified to remove the word “ji”, leading to the issue of a revised version of the coin.

Reverse:

The reverse of the coin features a portrait of Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Along the lower half of the periphery appears the inscription “150th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF LOKAMANYA BAL GANGADHAR TILAK” in English, while the upper half bears the Hindi inscription “लोकमान्य बाल गंगाधर तिलक की 150वीं जयंती”. The year of issue, “2007,” is inscribed in small lettering at the bottom periphery.

Obverse:

The obverse displays “भारत” in Hindi and “INDIA” in English along the upper portion, while the lower portion shows “रुपये” in Hindi and “RUPEES” in English. At the center is the Lion Capital of the Ashoka Pillar, India’s national emblem, with the legend “सत्यमेव जयते” inscribed below it. The international numeral “5”, prominently placed, denotes the denomination of the coin.

💰 Approximate Market Value (India – 2025)

Condition	Market Value (₹)
Circulated	1000 – 1500
Fine / Very Fine	1800 – 2500
Extra Fine (XF)	3000 – 3500
Uncirculated (UNC)	5000 – 8000+

📌 Values vary based on condition, surface quality, demand, and whether the coin is part of an official mint set.