₹250 Sri Muttusvami Diksita Coin: 2026 Design and Specifications

The proposed ₹250 coin for Sri Muttusvami Diksita stands out for pairing a precise, substantial format with a subject whose music is closely tied to language, devotion and place. A gazette notification dated October 30, 2026, confirms the coin, which marks the composer’s 250th Janmotsava. Its stated design centers on Diksita’s portrait, while the denomination, alloy and edge details give collectors specific features to record when the coin becomes available.

Specifications to watch

The coin is specified as a 35-gram piece, 44 mm in diameter, with 200 serrations around its edge. Its quaternary alloy is listed as 50% silver, 40% copper, 5% nickel and 5% zinc. These details form a useful checklist for cataloging: weight, diameter, edge and composition can distinguish this design from other commemoratives and help collectors keep accurate records.

The stated silver content is half the alloy by weight. The remaining proportions are copper, nickel and zinc. The source gives no mintage, release date, retailer or availability details, so those points remain open. Collectors tracking the coin can add them to a record when further information is provided, alongside the confirmed specifications and the date attached to the notification.

Two sides, two kinds of information

The obverse follows a familiar national coin layout. At its center is the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar, with “सत्यमेव जयते” below. “भारत” appears along the left periphery in Devanagari, and “INDIA” along the right in English. Beneath the central emblem, the rupee symbol and the denomination “250” are set in international numerals.

On the reverse, an image of Śrī Muttusvāmi Dīkṣita occupies the center. The upper periphery carries “श्री मुत्तुस्वामि दीक्षित की 250 वीं जयंती” in Devanagari; the lower periphery reads “250th Janmotsava of Śrī Muttusvāmi Dīkṣita” in English. The year “2026” is placed below the portrait. Together, the image, paired inscriptions and date make the commemorative purpose legible in both scripts, while giving the reverse its own clear hierarchy.

For a collection record, the inscriptions are worth transcribing as stated rather than reducing them to a short subject label. The coin’s title uses “Sri Muttusvami Diksita,” while the reverse description gives the forms “Śrī Muttusvāmi Dīkṣita” and “श्री मुत्तुस्वामि दीक्षित.” Keeping the coin’s printed wording in the catalog entry can help preserve the distinction between transliteration and inscription.

A composer remembered through place and music

Sri Muttusvami Diksita (1775–1835) was born at Tiruvarur and is counted among the Carnatic Trinity, alongside Sri Tyagaraja and Sri Syama Sastri. He was known for his knowledge of Sanskrit, music and spirituality. His compositions are noted for intricate melodic structures, Sanskrit lyrics and references to Hindu temples, deities and mythology.

Diksita travelled across South India and composed numerous kritis dedicated to deities at temples he visited. Many of his works bear the signature “Guruguha.” That combination of musical craft, literary detail and connection to specific sacred places gives the portrait on the coin a context beyond biography: it commemorates a body of work that remains part of Carnatic music performance and listening across generations.

Where it sits among musician coins

The planned Diksita coin would be the second commemorative coin dedicated to Carnatic music, following the coin for Dr. M.S. Subbulakshmi. It also joins a broader group of coins honoring Indian musicians, including Begum Akhtar, Mohammed Rafi and Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. For collectors building a music-themed series, the connection provides a clear way to place this design alongside earlier subjects while keeping its specific Carnatic focus in view.

The coin adds a finely described physical object to the story of Diksita’s continuing musical legacy. Its 35-gram weight, 44 mm diameter, alloy proportions, 200 edge serrations and bilingual reverse are the concrete details currently available. The next useful additions to a catalog will be any confirmed release and availability information, together with the coin in hand for close inspection of its portrait, lettering and finish.

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