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Taj Mahal gets a golden touch
France-based bank will release limited edition of gold coins engraved with Taj Mahal priced at Rs 65 lakh each. M Khalid Aftab reports.
Government Bank of France La Monnaie de Paris is set to release a gold coin with Taj Mahal engraved on it. The limited edition of world’s expensive gold coin is priced at Rs 65 lakh and its weight will be around one kilogram. 50 Cartier diamonds would also be engraved on the coin.
The move is aimed at immortalising the Taj Mahal, which was voted one of the seven wonders of the world three years back.
International manager of La Monnaie de Paris Thomas Jeunet was in the city to meet Mayor Anjula Mahaur to finalise the design of the coin.
The Mayor has been invited to the global launching event of the Taj Mahal collectible gold and silver coins, which will be held in Paris on November 17, 2010. The collection of coins will also be marketed in India by the Taj Association for Art, Culture and Heritage (TAACH).
29 gold coins weighing one kilogram each, studded with Cartier diamonds will be available for around Rs 65 lakh each. The silver coins, a limited edition of 10000 pieces, costing about Rs 3000 per coin will also be available. Besides, there are 99 gold coins weighing 155.5 gram and a thousand each weighing 31 gram and 8.4 gram.
An official of TAACH for Agra said that he hopes to sell seven to ten pieces of the one kg gold coin in India. These coins were a great investment, not just from the monetary point of view but also the rare work of art, he added.
Mayor Anjula Mahaur said, "I have sent a letter to the state government and if the government gives a green signal then I would be attending the global launch in Paris."
