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The
first coins of Pakistan were
issued in 1948, the year after
independence had been achieved.
The currency system was based
on the traditional Rupees,
Annas and Pice of the sub-continent
and the new coins depicted
a Toughra, Crescent and Star,
all symbolic of a Moslem state.
A decimal coinage system was
introduced on 1st January
1961.
The
Rupee remained the basic unit
of currency but was divided
into 100 Paisa and they continued
to bear an English inscription
until 1964. Apart from that
the designs of the coins have
been little altered. The Conservation
Coins are the first Pakistan
coins to be struck in gold
and silver. The obverse design
shows Minar-e-Pakistan superimposed
on the Star and Crescent.
The
animals selected by Pakistan
to be featured on their Conservation
Coins are the Astor Markhor
on the 3000 Rupee gold coin
and the Gavial and Western
Tragopan Pheasant on the two
silver coins.
The
coins for the Pakistan set
were designed by Robert Gilmour
who is amongst the fore-most
of the British Wildlife painters.
Robert Elderton is the chief
modeller at the Royal Mint
and produced the models for
the Pakistan coins among many
others. His recent work was
exhibited at the 1975 International
Medal Congress in Warsaw .
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