Collecting coins still enjoys currency

A 10th century ‘gold pagoda’ dedicated to warriors was auctioned for Rs 8.75 lakh at the ‘Nanyadarshini’ fair held by the Karnataka Numismatics Society.

The ‘gold pagoda,’ classified as ‘fine’ and ‘very rare,’ has the image of a warrior with his sword on its obverse, above which there is a depiction of the sun and the moon.

On the reverse there is an inscription in ‘Halegannada’ (old Kannada) which reads ‘Sri Nigalamkamala Dam Dinago’.

The coin weighs 3.66 gram and is 16.5 mm in diameter. Overshooting the starting bid of Rs 1.5 lakh, it was auctioned for more than five times the starting bid.

The three-day coin fair, which concluded on Sunday, attracted a huge crowd of enthusiasts in numismatics. The weekend saw an increase in the crowd and the venue, Shikshakara Sadana, was packed with people on Sunday.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Suresh NR, secretary of the Karnataka Numismatics Society, said the society held the fair once in two years and this year there had been at least a 20 per cent increase in the number of visitors.

“The fair had various categories including exhibition, sale and auction. This catered to a wide range of enthusiasts from seasoned numismatists to those who just wanted to take a look at the coins,” he said.

The fair saw a large number of youngsters too. Mahesh N, parent of an eight-year-old, said he brought his son to ensure that he would at least get an inkling of the hobby.
“I have been collecting coins since my schooldays. Though I cannot force the hobby on my son, I would like him to get a taste of it.”

In a bid to get youngsters initiated into the hobby, senior numismatist Ramesh Kukreja displayed interactive exhibits to attract children. One such exhibit was that of a doll that gobbled up coins placed on its hand. Kukreja explained the significance of each such coin children placed on its hand. A numismatist for several decades, he has also collected Re 1 notes whose number ends with ‘46’.

“I was born in 1946 and hence took a fancy for this particular series,” he said.
“This time, many parents have been asking us about initiating their children into the hobby and the investment needed,” said Suresh NR. His advice to parents was not to invest a lot in the beginning and let children make a start by collecting simple coins based on shape and size.

If the interest lingers on after the initial period, they can be guided to start collecting coins on a particular topic, he advised. The Karnataka Numismatics Society also has a library that enthusiasts are encouraged to explore. The society has 750 life members at present.