Gold coins

In order to commemorate 50 years of independence, Bank Indonesia, in cooperation with the National Council of the 1945 Generation, have issued two gold coins. The coins consist of two series, the "Presidential Series" with a face value of Rp 850,000 and the "Democratic Series", with a value of Rp 350,000.

The first time I saw the "Presidential Series", which carries the state's Garuda symbol on one side and a picture of President Soeharto on the other, a question crossed my mind. Since the title is the "President of the Republic of Indonesia," I've wondered why it only carries the picture of our present President, Soeharto. How about the late president Sukarno? As I recall, our nation has been led by two presidents, Sukarno (1945- 1968) and Soeharto (1968-present).

Although in our golden anniversary of independence Soeharto occupies the seat of President, the late president Sukarno was our president too. In my opinion, it would be wise for this coin to depict both leaders on either side of the coin. Let us not forget both men and their effort to create a country that is "a piece of heaven which falls on the earth."

WIDIARTO PROBOPRASETYO

Jakarta