Two-day exhibition of rare coins and stamps begins in Shivamogga

A two-day exhibition of rare coins and stamps was inaugurated at Veerashaiva Kalyana Mantapa in Shivamogga on Saturday, as part of the Shivamogga Dasara celebrations. 

Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa inaugurated the event in the presence of MLA S.N. Channabasappa, former MLC S. Rudre Gowda and others.

After going through the exhibition, the former Chief Minister said, “Old coins, though no longer legal tender, are living witnesses to history and tradition. They convey the art, culture and traditions of their times. Collecting coins is like preserving history,” he said. He also appealed to the public to spread the word so that hundreds of people could visit and view the exhibits. He appreciated the efforts of those who took part.

The Malnad Coins and Stamp Collectors Trust organised the event in collaboration with the Shivamogga Dasara celebration committee. Members of the trust have exhibited their collection.

V. Jagadish of Tarikere displayed rare stamps, including 25 gold-plated stamps from the “Pride of India” collection - an official limited-edition set of 25 Indian postage stamp replicas. Mr. Jagadish, 66, said he has been collecting notes for the last 30 years and exhibiting them at many events. G.R. Nagaraj, also of Tarikere, displayed rare notes, including the first official gold banknote of Antigua and Barbuda.

Chandrakanth, a journalist in Shivamogga, has an excellent collection of coins, including those from the Tipu Sultan era, the Vijayanagara kingdom, the Gupta dynasty and many princely States of India. He developed the habit as a student and has spent a considerable part of his earnings on it.

“Of late, some people try to cheat buyers by selling replicas of rare coins. Only those who have been in this field for years can easily identify replicas,” he said, proudly showing his collection from the Tipu era. 

Visitors’ interest

Rare currency notes of yesteryear, no longer in circulation, drew interest among visitors, who were seen asking the numismatists about the source and value of each item. Young people showed particular curiosity about the paisa and anna coins, which no longer hold any value in today’s market.