Most expensive coin on
Taj to be released in Paris
Agra, Nov 14 – Agra Mayor
Anjula Singh Mahaur Sunday said both the central and Uttar Pradesh governments
were not interested in promoting tourism. Her remarks come close on the
heels of her proposed trip to France for the release of the most expensive
coin on the Taj Mahal being shot down.
The French coin depicting
the Taj would be the most expensive to be released by the Paris mint. It
will weigh around 1 kg and will carry 50 diamonds. It is priced at $140,000.
"This highly prestigious
and unique event Nov 17 would have been a great opportunity to promote
tourism, but the officials concerned are not interested and have taken
no interest in encashing this wonderful moment of glory for Agra," Mahaur
told IANS Sunday.
"The French mint CEO specially
sent his representative to Agra to invite me and I was keen to go there,
but there has been no support from any quarter," said the mayor.
The French coin depicting
the Taj would be the most expensive to be released by the Paris mint. It
will weigh around 1 kg and will carry 50 diamonds. It is priced at $140,000.
‘This highly prestigious
and unique event Nov 17 would have been a great opportunity to promote
tourism, but the officials concerned are not interested and have taken
no interest in encashing this wonderful moment of glory for Agra,’ Mahaur
told IANS Sunday.
‘The French mint CEO specially
sent his representative to Agra to invite me and I was keen to go there,
but there has been no support from any quarter,’ said the mayor.
The design of the coin
was shown to her and she approved it for minting. A French mint official
was in Agra last week to show her a replica of the coin.
A silver replica of the
coin costing around Rs.3,000 would be available for sale in Agra.
‘In 2007, for attending
an event in Lisbon (Portugal) where the Taj Mahal was voted number one
wonder of the world, my husband spent his hard earned money to sponsor
my trip,’ the mayor said.
The coin’s release in
Paris was planned ahead of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife
Carla Bruni’s visit to India early December. The two are likely to visit
Agra Dec 5. This will be the 40th international coin depicting the Taj. |