Varieties of UN 50th Anniversary Coin (1995)

In 1995, on the 50^th anniversary of the United Nations (1945 - 1995), SBP issued a commemorative Bronze coin in the denomination of Rupees 5 with a diameter of 35.25mm and weight of 20g.

In recent years, collectors on various social media platforms have reported noticing variations in the design of this coin. To date, seven or eight different varieties have been discovered.

The discovery of these variations has led to speculation about the possible reasons behind them. Some believe that they may be the result of errors in the minting process, while others suggest that they could be intentional design changes made by the mint.

Regardless of the cause, the existence of these variations adds a new layer of complexity and intrigue to the world of coin collecting. Collectors are now on the lookout for these rare and unique coins, hoping to add them to their collections.

The discovery of various varieties of this coin has sparked my interest and excitement to delve deeper into numismatics. Upon closely examining multiple coins, I found out that there are two major die varieties (obverse and reverse both) of this coin on which the coins were minted.

When comparing Die Variety 1 and Die Variety 2, one significant difference apart from the date is the size of the objects on the obverse side. In Die Variety 2, the objects appear larger, giving the impression that the entire front image of the coin has been enlarged. This alteration in size between the two die varieties is a notable distinction that sets them apart.

The reverse side of both varieties of the coin exhibit a subtle difference in the tail of the digit 5. In Die Variety 1, the tail of the digit 5 is shorter, while in Die Variety 2, it is longer. 

Some collectors also noticed variations in the date, in some coins a particular digit is smaller from the rest while in some cases a particular digit is larger from the rest. I think this happens due to deposits of the metal particles on the die in the mintage run.

The combination of two dies and date variations in this coin can result in a wide range of varieties. However, in my opinion, the major varieties of these coins can be narrowed down to two distinct types.