When it comes to the top ten of this list, more than likely the names that grace it will be recognizable. How could they not be when there have been so many incredible women that have contributed to numismatics in some way over the course of history? We have discussed some of the 10 so far, but today is one that many know across the world regardless of your age or your background as her impact knows no bounds or the oceans that separate us as humans.
#3 – Mother Teresa
Born in 1910 as Anjezë (Agnes) Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in the small town of Skopje (now known as Macedonia), Mother Teresa was interested in a religious life at a young age and became a novitiate (apprentice) with the Sisters of Loreto at the age of 18. Her studying would take her to Ireland to learn English before setting off to Darjeeling, India, where she became a missionary. She would take her religious vows on May 24, 1931, and chose the name Teresa after Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the patron saint of missionaries.
While in Calcutta, India, she would change her focus from teaching to serving the poor and in 1950, she would begin the Missionaries of Charity. The organization has grown to more than 4,500 members in over 100 countries. With her efforts, Mother Teresa won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. She would go on to donate the prize money, which was around $190,000 U.S., to the poor.
In addition to her extensive travels throughout the world, there have been several books written by and about Mother Teresa. She wrote about love and humility and practiced what she preached as an example to all. She passed away on September 5, 1997, after heart problems. The Republic of India would throw her a full state funeral as thousands of people would watch her body get transported throughout the streets on the same carriage used for Mahatma Gandhi’s funeral in 1948.
She appears on a great deal of coins in several countries, including France, India, and the British Virgin Islands. A 5-rupee coin was issued in 2010 by India to commemorate the 100th anniversary of her birth. It was said that five rupees was all she carried in her pocket when she left for medical training in Patna, India, preparing herself to work in ministry to the poor.
According to author Ron Guth, collecting difficulty of the 5-rupee is easy as prices range from a few dollars to $100 for the silver commemorative.