Pak issues commemorative coin to mark Guru Nanak’s 555th birth anniv

Pakistan has issued a commemorative coin to mark Guru Nanak’s 555th birth anniversary as more than 2,500 Indian Sikhs pilgrims who were here to attend the special occasion departed for their homes on Saturday.

The celebrations to mark the 555th birth anniversary, which was on November 14, started last week at Gurdwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib, where the founder of Sikh religion was born.

Sikh pilgrims from all over the world, including India, participated in the religious rituals at the gurdwara, about 100-odd km from here.

The special commemorative coin of PKR 55 denomination has on one side a picture of Gurdwara Janam Asthan Nankana Sahib and ‘555th Birthday Celebrations’ and ‘Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji 1469-2024’ written above and below it, respectively.

“On the obverse side, there is the crescent moon and five-pointed star facing north-west in a rising position in the centre. Along the periphery on the top are inscribed ‘Islami Jamhuria Pakistan’ in Urdu (Islamic Republic of Pakistan) and below the crescent are two springs of wheat with arms curved upward.”

According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the coin, released on Friday, consists of 79 per cent brass, 20 per cent zinc and 1 per cent nickel; measures 30mm in diameter and weighs 13.5 grams. This commemorative coin will be available at exchange counters across all branches of State Bank of Pakistan, the bank said.