Numismatics – Currency Collection

Like philately, coin/banknote collection is also considered as hobbies of rich people. There are several ways to collect coins and banknotes of the world. It all depends on what you want to collect. You can start with the coins in your pocket. At home leisurely go through the coins you have, you will be amazed with the types and varieties. You can acquire coins of the different countries through pen friends or from the relatives you know staying abroad. There are several websites where you can actually exchange your coins. It is fun collecting coins and you will really enjoy it. Like philately it will also expose you to the world history through its varied forms.

Indian Coinage

The origin of Indian coinage is still debatable. With the origin of the Indus valley civilization of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, which dates back to 2500 BC started the first use of legal tender system for transaction in the Indian sub-continent. Archeologists have excavated several seals from this site but it is not clear whether they were used as coins. The accounted coinage started with punch mark coins issued well before Imperial Mauryas (322–185 BCE). You can read more about the Indian coin history in the below mentioned weblinks. Greeks, romans, muslim rulers and british raj have greatly influnced Indian coins. Several metals like copper, silver, lead, gold and different alloys have been used to mint coins. Each issuing dynasty can be recoginzed with their unique symbols and motifs on the coins. With the independence in 1947, uniform coin system came into existance throughout the country.


Weblinks To Indian Coinage :
1. http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/india/ancientindia.html
2. http://www.vijayanagaracoins.com/htm/profile.htm
3. http://jfcampbell.us/india/
4. http://www.joelscoins.com/india.htm
5. http://home.comcast.net/~pankajtandon/home.html
6. http://www.angelfire.com/on2/coins/british.html
7. http://www.grifterrec.com/coins/coins.html
8. http://www.rbi.org.in/currency/Coins.html
9. http://www.rbi.org.in/currency/museum/c-ancient.html
10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Indian_coins
11. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_coinage