<p>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. <br /><br /></p>.<p>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. <br /><br />On the reverse there is an inscription in ‘Halegannada’ (old Kannada) which reads ‘Sri Nigalamkamala Dam Dinago’.<br /><br /> 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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />“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. <br /><br />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. <br />“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.” <br /><br />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’. <br /><br />“I was born in 1946 and hence took a fancy for this particular series,” he said.<br />“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. <br /><br />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.<br /> </p>
<p>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. <br /><br /></p>.<p>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. <br /><br />On the reverse there is an inscription in ‘Halegannada’ (old Kannada) which reads ‘Sri Nigalamkamala Dam Dinago’.<br /><br /> 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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />“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. <br /><br />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. <br />“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.” <br /><br />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’. <br /><br />“I was born in 1946 and hence took a fancy for this particular series,” he said.<br />“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. <br /><br />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.<br /> </p>
