The East India Company has issued legal tender Coins to celebrate the 200th and Final Test Game of Sachin Tendulkar, the world’s greatest batsman.
Released in London on June 22, 2014, the Coins are official marks of distinction and exceptional honour given only to individuals who have accomplished great achievements in human history.
Tendulkar was the Global Ambassador of International Cricket for 24 years, inspiring new talent and supporters alike across the Commonwealth and beyond.
He joined the ranks of Sporting Icons such as Mohammed Ali and Nigel Mansell, who are amongst the few to receive such an honour.
Powerful story
Preserved for generations to come, this legal tender Coins issue tells a powerful story and reminds the world that high achievements are possible with unfaltering faith and sheer determination.
The Coin design was handcrafted in Joaquin Jimenez, one of the world’s most renowned Coin designers. She is currently Chief Engraver at Monnaie de Paris.
The canvas of the Coin shows the latitude lines of the globe modelled in cricket stitching to represent the international stage of cricket, which Tendulkar has undeniably taken to another level.
The Gateway of India denotes Mumbai, Tendulkar’s hometown, where he started and finished his breath-taking career. The Coin shows his 200th Test Match milestone with his autographed bat, helmet and the number 187 which he wore during his 200th and final Test Match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in November 2013. That is where he announced his retirement.
Extraordinary Coin
The Gold Coin is not an ordinary Coin. Valued at £12,000 each, it has been double-struck in 24-carat gold (9.999 Au) and carefully finished to the highest polishing-standard known in ‘legal-Coin’ minting. Only 210 gold Coins, each weighing precisely 200 grams are being issued to pay tribute to Tendulkar at a global level.
Only a few will ever see this Coin making it rare. Exclusively presented in a custom-made presentation box, the Coin is accompanied by an individually numbered and personally signed certificate of authenticity along with an autographed cricket bat by Tendulkar.
This is only the second Coin design released for the wider audience to own a timeless piece of memorabilia of ‘The World’s Greatest Batsman’. The design is artfully crafted and shows a square cut silhouette of the star batting on the world stage of cricket. This second Coin design has been issued in 1oz and 1/4oz gold and 1/2oz silver. Both, gold and silver, are part of a strictly ‘Limited Edition’ and are certified with a numbered certificate of authenticity.
Remarkable star
Tendulkar, who turned 41 in April`, is currently commemorating his year of retirement. He continues to have a huge fan base across the globe and is widely acknowledged as the greatest living batsman. He was the first cricketer to score 100 international centuries, holds the record for more Test runs than any other player in history (15,837) and more One-Day International (ODI) runs than anyone else (18,426).
“All my life, I have had a dream of playing cricket for India. I am very fortunate to have lived this dream for the last 24 years. I am honoured to be recognised with the issue of these special Coins, which have been impressively designed with a lot of thought,” Tendulkar said.
The Company
It is befitting that the Coins, celebrating India’s greatest cricket champion are released by The East India Company. It is well documented that the entire history of cricket on the Asian subcontinent and India particularly, is inextricably linked to the development of the British Raj via The East India Company.
As it expanded its influence and trade routes across India, the Company took with it this very British past time and cricket ‘hot spots’ developed at strategic locations such as Calcutta (Kolkata) and Bombay (Mumbai).
The first distinct mention of Cricket being played anywhere in the Sub-Continent is an account of English sailors of the East India Company written in 1737.
Chief Executive Sanjiv Mehta said that historically, precious metal formed an important part of The Company’s trading activities.
“We have been issuing our own gold and silver Coins for centuries and began to do so again in 2010. The Company introduced Cricket to the Commonwealth, then the British Empire, and it made immense sense for us to issue a Coin for this special occasion.
If you are interested in purchasing the ‘Limited Edition’ Coins, please visit www.eicgold.com
