The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has taken the initiative to commemorate a decade of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by issuing a Rs100 coin. The special coin is set to be available from August 11, 2023, through the SBP Banking Services Corporation exchange counters.
Symbolism and Significance
The unique coin comes perfectly round with detailed serrations on its edge; dimensionally, it measures 30.00 mm in diameter and weighs approximately 13.5 grams, constructed from the Cupro-Nickel alloy.
The obverse side of the coin exhibits a meticulously designed five-pointed star at its centre. This star encapsulates symbolic elements from both nations – the crescent moon and star from Pakistan’s flag on the right and the quintet of stars from China’s flag on the left.
The top and bottom are inscriptions “CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF CPEC” in English and “ISLAMI JAMHURIA PAKISTAN” in Urdu, with each set of wordings separated by two stars on either side. To signify its face value, bold numerals indicating “100” and the Urdu inscription “Rupiya” flank the star.
The reverse side mirrors the obverse, featuring an artistic five-pointed star in the centre. The same symbolic representations from Pakistan’s and China’s flags are embedded.
The periphery is adorned with the phrases “CHINA PAKISTAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR” in both English and Chinese scripts on top and “PAKISTAN CHEEN EQTESADI RAHDARI” in Urdu, combined with “FROM VISION TO REALITY” in English at the bottom.
Two additional stars separate these inscriptions, and the years “2013” and “2023” are prominently displayed on the coin’s centre left and right, marking the transformative decade of the CPEC’s developmental journey.