We haven’t featured many coins with an Indian theme, mainly because there aren’t many out there, but this one was brought to our attention by the distributor, and we’re all up for variety at AgAuNEWS, so here it is. Depicting an Indian spiritual master named Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, the man was all about teaching love, forgiveness and inner peace. Combining teachings of Islam and Hinduism, he was non-violent and widely revered both in his own time, and after his death in 1918. His teachings are widely followed today, although his criticism of atheism seems strangely at odds with his beliefs.

The coin is struck by the Helvetic Mint in Switzerland, a highly accomplished mint, and comes in at 1 oz of fine silver. Issued for Niue, the obverse carries the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, the reverse depicting a colour image of the man himself along with a Swiss hallmark. Presented encapsulated and in a box with a certificate of authenticity, only 501 pieces will be struck, and they’re limited to two coins per person.

MINTS DESCRIPTION

“Sai Baba of Shirdi (28 September 1835 – 15 October 1918; resided in Shirdi, also known as Shirdi Sai Baba, was an Indian spiritual master who was and is regarded by his devotees as a saint, fakir, and satguru, according to their individual proclivities and beliefs. He was revered by both his Hindu and Muslim devotees, and during, as well as after, his life it remained uncertain if he was a Hindu or a Muslim himself. This however was of no consequence to Sai Baba himself. Sai Baba stressed the importance of surrender to the guidance of the true Satguru or Murshid, who, having gone the path to divine consciousness himself, will lead the disciple through the jungle of spiritual training.

Sai Baba remains a very popular Master, especially in India, and is worshiped by people around the world. He had no love for perishable things and his sole concern was self‐realization. He taught a moral code of love, forgiveness, helping others, charity, contentment, inner peace, and devotion to God and guru. He gave no distinction based on religion or caste. Sai Baba’s teaching combined elements of Hinduism and Islam: he gave the Hindu name Dwarakamayi to the mosque he lived in, practised Muslim rituals, taught using words and figures that drew from both traditions, and was buried in Shirdi. One of his well known epigrams, “Sabka Malik Ek” (“One God governs all”), is associated with Hinduism, Islam and Sufism. He also said, “Trust in me and your prayer shall be answered”. He always uttered “Allah Malik” (“God is King”).

No verifiable information is given regarding Sai Baba’s real name, place or time of birth. When asked about his past, he often gave elusive responses. The name “Sai” was given to him upon his arrival at Shirdi, a town in the west Indian state of Maharashtra.

Sai Baba’s disciples and devotees claim that he performed many miracles such as bilocation, levitation, mindreading, materialisation, exorcisms, making the river Yamuna, entering a state of Samādhi at will, lighting lamps with water, removing his limbs or intestines and sticking them back to his body (khandana yoga), curing the incurably sick, appearing beaten when another was beaten, preventing a mosque from falling down on people, and helping his devotees in a miraculous way. He also gave Darshan (vision) to people in the form of Rama, Krishna, Vithoba and many other gods depending on the faith of devotees.

According to his followers he appeared to them in dreams even after he left his body and gave them advice. His devotees have documented many stories.”

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SPECIFICATION