Kathmandu – Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) suspended sales of gold asarfi coins on Friday, November 6, 2026, after its available stock was exhausted during the first day of its Tihar sales.
The central bank began selling gold asarfis and silver medallions from its Mint Division in Babarmahal on Thursday, November 5, ahead of the festival.
According to NRB, 4,500 gold asarfis were sold on Thursday, including coins purchased by central bank employees. The remaining stock was insufficient to continue sales on Friday.
NRB spokesperson Guru Poudel said the limited stock had been exhausted, with procedural and administrative difficulties affecting the sales arrangements.
The central bank had purchased 35 kilograms of gold from commercial banks this year to resume sales of gold asarfis. Last year, it offered only silver medallions because of a gold shortage.
Each gold asarfi weighed 2.5 grams and was sold for Rs 65,400 on Thursday. Customers were permitted to buy one gold asarfi and up to two silver medallions, subject to availability.
Silver medallions weighing 10 grams each were priced at Rs 3,800 on Thursday. On Friday, NRB continued selling only silver medallions at a revised price of Rs 3,700 per piece.
The annual sale takes place ahead of Tihar, when gold and silver coins are traditionally purchased for Laxmi Puja, gifts and religious offerings.
NRB has not announced when gold asarfi sales might resume. Customers seeking the coins will have to await further information from the central bank.
