It is true that Sachin is gold both on and off-field. Recently one of the gold retailers launched Sachin gold coins on Akshaya Tritiya day.

In fact, it was the Mangalore-based Corporation Bank that took the lead in marketing the Tendulkar gold coins way back in 1999.

The European financial services group Societe Generale had launched the World Cup commemorative gold medallion featuring Sachin in 1999. England hosted the 1999 Cricket World Cup.

Designed by Stuart Devlin, who is an Australian-born and London-based designer of gold and silver items, the coin was minted at the Perth Mint in Australia.

One side of the coin had embossed face of Sachin, the other side had a slogan – ‘Support India 1999’.

In India, the coin was marketed through the branches of Corporation Bank. Kapil Dev, who captained the 1983 World Cup winning team, launched the coin in India.

Apart from this, the coin was marketed in many other countries where Indian Diaspora resides. Societe Generale had tied up with the Dubai-based Damas Jewellery to market it in the Gulf region. The coin was also marketed in Fiji and the UK.

The quarter ounce 24-carat gold coin was sold at around Rs 4,500 in India in 1999.

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