Showing posts with label cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cross. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Controversial "Cross" on coins of India

Reserve Bank of India introduced these two coins in 2005. An Emblem and a numeral 2 on obverse and on reverse a single cross for 1 rupee and double cross for 2 rupees coin with 4 dots in every split portion. RBI claimed that this design have been chosen as a sign of "Unity in Diversity". However there is no history in India of a cross of this nature or any other cross being used to represent this theme. Outraged Indian commentators and Hindu nationalists have charged that the symbol is a Christian cross, pointing out its strong resemblance (equal-armed cross and dots) to the symbol on the denarii coins issued by Roman King Louis the Pious.


Emperor Louis I the pious was the king of Franks and Holy Roman Empire from Carolingian dynasty between 814 A.D. to 840 A.D.

Obverse - HLVDOVVICVS IMP, cross; pellet in eachquarter

Reverse - XPISTIANA RELIGIO, temple; cross within

However 1 rupee coin was minted in very less quantity and only in 2005, whereas 2 rupees coin was minted from 2005 to 2007 and then minting was discontinued. These two coin designs have been replaced by "Bharatnatyam Mudra" coins.