Coins I Love...!

Learned somethings about Ethiopian currency today when my colleague gave me:

• 1 Birr Coin (with Lion)
• 5 Birr Bank note

Homi Jehangir Bhabha, (Hindi: होमी भाभा; October 30 1909 – January 24 1966; FRS) was an Indian nuclear physicist, founding director, and professor of physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Colloquially known as "father of Indian nuclear programme", Bhabha was the founding director of two well-known research institutions, namely the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and the Trombay Atomic Energy Establishment (now named after him); both sites were the cornerstone of Indian development of nuclear weapons which Bhabha also supervised as its director.


In January 1966, Bhabha died in a plane crash near Mont Blanc, while heading to Vienna, Austria to attend a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Scientific Advisory Committee.

After his death, the Atomic Energy Establishment at Trombay was renamed as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in his honour. In addition to being an able scientist and administrator, Bhabha was also a painter and a classical music and opera enthusiast, besides being an amateur botanist. He is one of the most prominent scientists that India has ever had. Bhabha also encouraged research in electronics, space science, radio astronomy and microbiology. The famed radio telescope at Ooty, India was his initiative, and it became a reality in 1970. The Homi Bhabha Fellowship Council has been giving the Homi Bhabha Fellowships since 1967 Other noted institutions in his name are the Homi Bhabha National Institute, an Indian deemed university and the Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, Mumbai, India.

Read more about Homi Jehangir Bhabha and his life.


The Rupees 10 Bimetallic coin in honour of the eminent scientist was in 2010.

Read RBI Press Release here.





Shape and outside diameter - Circular 27 mm (Bi-metallic)
Metal Composition -
Outer Ring : (Aluminium Bronze): 
Copper - 92%, Zinc - 6%, Nickel - 2%

Centre Piece: (Cupro Nickel): 
Copper - 75%, Nickel - 25%

I got the coin with plain edge.

There is a general misconception regarding the date printed in this coin. Years 2008-2009 is printed in this coin. Though the year 2009 is the centenary of Homi Bhabha. But RBI has issued this coin as 2008-2009 because it is celebrated as centenary year. 


Just because 2008 is printed it is not an error coin. Check the RBI Press release for more details of the coin.

I owe credits to my friend and colleague for the coins from Hungary. I have never visited this country, but am fascinated to know more about the country after seeing the coins.

The following gives the complete information about the metal and make of the coin:

Country	Hungary
Year	1996-2010
Metal	Bi-Metallic Brass plated Steel center in Stainless Steel ring
Weight	8 g
Diameter	23.8 mm
Thickness	2.2 mm
Shape	Round
Orientation	Medal alignment ↑↑
Observe	Lettering: MAGYAR KÖZTÁRSASÁG 1997
Reverse	Lettering: BP. 100 FORINT

Information Courtesy: Numista