The 5 Rupee 2nd International Crop Science Congress coin (originally issued in 1996) is one of the most famous, highly sought-after, and valuable definitive commemorative coins in Republic India numismatics
Year of Original Issue: 1996
Mint: Calcutta (Kolkata) Mint Only (No mint mark below the year)
Composition: Copper-Nickel
Weight: 9 grams
Diameter: 23 mm
The original 1996 mintage was intended to commemorate the 2nd International Crop Science Congress held in New Delhi. However, it is widely believed that the planned mass circulation was abruptly halted or withdrawn. Only an estimated 11,000 coins from the original 1996 batch escaped into the market, making it an extremely low-mintage definitive coin
First Strike (1996 Original): The word फसल (Fasal) is written with a completely solid, continuous horizontal top bar (Shirorekha) over the letters
Second Strike (2006 Restrike): The horizontal top bar over the word is broken right before the last letter 'ल' (appearing like फस ल or फंसल) due to a modified or degraded die
