Rare Coins, Notes and Stamps Go on Display at Shivamogga Dasara

A collection of rare coins, currency notes and stamps went on display at Veerashaiva Kalyana Mantapa in Shivamogga on Saturday as part of the Shivamogga Dasara celebrations.

The two-day exhibition was inaugurated by former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa in the presence of MLA S.N. Channabasappa, former MLC S. Rudre Gowda and others.

Coins and stamps linked to history

After going through the exhibits, Mr. Yediyurappa said old coins, although no longer legal tender, were “living witnesses to history and tradition.”

“They convey the art, culture and traditions of their times. Collecting coins is like preserving history,” he said.

Mr. Yediyurappa appealed to the public to spread the word so that hundreds of people could visit the exhibition and view the exhibits.

He also appreciated the efforts of those who took part in organising and displaying the collections.

The Malnad Coins and Stamp Collectors Trust organised the exhibition in collaboration with the Shivamogga Dasara celebration committee.

Members of the trust have exhibited their collections at the event.

V. Jagadish of Tarikere displayed rare stamps, including 25 gold-plated stamps from the “Pride of India” collection.

The “Pride of India” collection is an official limited-edition set of 25 Indian postage stamp replicas.

Mr. Jagadish, 66, said he had been collecting notes for the last 30 years and had displayed them at many events.

G.R. Nagaraj, also of Tarikere, displayed rare notes, including the first official gold banknote of Antigua and Barbuda.

Collections from different eras

Chandrakanth, a journalist in Shivamogga, displayed a collection of coins from the Tipu Sultan era, the Vijayanagara kingdom, the Gupta dynasty and many princely States of India.

He developed the habit of collecting coins as a student and has spent a considerable part of his earnings on the hobby.

While showing his collection from the Tipu era, he said some people had recently tried 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.

The exhibition also includes rare currency notes from earlier periods that are no longer in circulation.

These notes drew interest among visitors, who were seen asking numismatists about the source and value of each item.

Young people showed particular curiosity about paisa and anna coins, which no longer hold any value in today’s market.

The displays therefore bring together items valued for their connection to art, culture and past monetary systems, as well as collections built over decades by individual enthusiasts.

Source: The Hindu