Specially minted toss coin for the India-South Africa series

The coin has the photographs of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela laser engraved on it.

To honour the memory of Mahatma Gandhi on his 146th birth anniversary, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) launched a specially minted coin with the images of the Father of the Nation and Nelson Mandela for the India-South Africa cricket series starting today.

“The toss coin in gold features an impression of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela as ‘Heads’ and the Freedom Series as ‘Tails’,” the BCCI said in a statement as quoted by One India.

The coin is exclusively designed for the series, it weighs 20 grams and is gold-plated sterling silver. The same coin will used in the three formats of the game whenever India and South Africa play each other in home and away series.

The photographs of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela have been engraved through laser on the coin. BCCI Secretary Anurag Thakur will launch the coin along with the two teams' captains, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Faf du Plessis, at the start of the first T20I match in Dharamsala.

In the same statement, Thakur said that this is their way to pay homage to the two great leaders which fought for freedom of two nations.

“This is our small way to pay homage to Gandhi ji as we celebrate his 146th birth anniversary. Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela proved to the world that freedom could be achieved through the path of non-violence – a true symbol of peace, truth and harmony,” Thakur said.

“This coin will keep reminding everyone about the teachings of both the great leaders and also the strong bond India and South Africa share historically.”

India and South Africa are scheduled to play three Twenty20 internationals, five one-day internationals and four Test matches in next 72 days.