Age is Not a Barrier For Collecting Stamps of India

It is a very sorry state to see that we, as Indians are drifting away from our own cultures and traditions at a very fast pace. The influence of western culture on the young generation has deeply affected our heritage. There is a need to make youngsters aware about our country's richness, be it history, personalities, wildlife, or regional traditions, music, art and literature. Stamps of India represent this cultural diversity in the most beautiful way. Although, writing letters has become obsolete with the advent of technological advances in the field of communication, stamp collecting is a hobby that still survives.

Nurture Young Minds:

There is a need to encourage more and more youngsters to pursue this amazing hobby. When kids are introduced to various kinds of Indian stamps, they will get a fair idea about the important aspects of our country. After Independence, India Post has released so many wonderful stamps covering numerous themes and subjects, that you will be truly mesmerised! Children can be asked to pick up a theme of their choice and start collecting stamps in India. This will increase their general knowledge about various events from the past and personalities, multi-fold. Apart from that, the process of collecting stamps is joyous, not like reading boring school textbooks. Students will willingly want to learn about the imagery featured on stamps of India. Philately in a way, introduces a fun way to educate oneself about India's pride.

Problem with current education system:

There is no point forcing students to study just for the sake of scoring good marks in examinations. The education system in India itself needs to be revamped by making use of innovative learning tools and mediums. Philately is definitely one of those innovative tools indeed. There is no question of mugging up answers when students do their research on their own. Understanding concepts become much simpler when you are personally interested in learning something new. Moreover, things that you learn this way stay fresh in your memory for a long period of time. Education shouldn't be ideally restricted to only scoring good marks. Education is all about being aware and gaining more knowledge. Most parents pressurise their kids to score well thinking that good marks would fetch them a good job in the future. Instead they should take the initiative for helping them in collecting rare Indian stamps. When parents show kids a new exciting way of learning something new, children are quick to grasp the concepts.

The perfect website to learn about Indian stamps:

Finding the right kind of information is also essential when it comes to researching about Stamps of India. There are several websites out there where you will find data about different kinds of rare Indian stamps. The only problem with many of these websites is that the information is not well-categorised or formatted. Mintage World is a one-of-a-kind website where you will not face this problem at all. All the information you need about any Indian stamp is listed in an organised fashion. All you have to do is select the necessary category and search for data related to stamps of India based on various parameters like issue date, theme, subject etc. It is a perfect online reference guide for anybody who is looking to make an impressive collection of Indian stamps. Even if the school curriculum does not have stamp collecting as a subject, as parents you can always show your children this website from where they can gain knowledge about different kinds of Indian stamps.

It's never too late:

If you are thinking that stamp collecting is only for kids then you are wrong. There is no age to start learning something new. Collecting different stamps of India keeps you excited always. You also get a chance to meet likeminded individuals and collectors in your journey. When you network with new people, the chances of finding a new rare Indian stamp become much higher. There are some collectors who took up this hobby at a very later stage in life. The most fascinating aspect of this hobby is that there is something to look forward to in life apart from your daily mundane activities. When you go back home after a hard day at work, you can spend some good time gazing at your lovely collection of Indian stamps and reading about the subjects presented on them. The hobby keeps your mind busy in something fascinating and keeps you away from all your troubling worries. In this day and age when stress is something that you cannot avoid, collecting rare stamps of India can act as the perfect de-stress button. Also, when you have nothing to do after retirement, the hobby helps in keeping your mind active!

Stamp collection is so easy that you won't have to rack your brains to get started. Simply go to the nearest post office and check out the latest stamps of India released by India Post. No matter if you are old young, stamp collection is for each and every one! Start collecting Indian stamps right away!

Read why collecting stamps of India doesn't just increase the knowledge-base of kids but also spices up your life as you are growing older!

Journey of Ancient Indian Old Coins From Ancient Times to Colonial Period

Old Indian coins have a history that is unimaginably long and mysterious. In fact there are mentions about money and coins in ancient Indian vedic texts. But there are no strong evidences to support these statements and ensure whether they really existed in those days. Even then, Indian old coins are considered to be the oldest coins in the world. Experts and historians have debated on this topic since a long time. Some say that the Greek drachma of Aegina are the first coins while there are researchers who have said that the first that were stuck in Ephesus, Lydia in 650 BC. Ancient coins of India dates back to 6th century BC where You will find a lot of information about these online.

Doesn't really matter where the first coins of the world were struck, the matter of the fact is that Indian coins have always been extremely interesting to explore. That's the reason why collectors and numismatists from all over the world have shown so much interest in learning more about Indian old coins. Old Indian coins can be classified into three categories, namely, ancient, medieval and colonial. I go to know about this website, when I was doing my research on mughal coins. The website is easy to navigate and you will find everything you need to know about all kinds of coins of ancient India.

Image Courtesy: www.mintageworld.com

Ancient Indian coins were minted when the Indian subcontinent was divided into various janapada. Each of these janapada had their own kings and emperors. Even today, coins that were issued by mauryan kings are sought after by collectors throughout the world. I had recently visited a coin exhibition which showcased very interesting collections of old Indian coins. I got a chance to buy a brilliant Chandragupta maurya coin. The moment I posted pictures of my latest addition to my collection, I started getting several enquiries about them. If it would have been someone else then he or she would have definitely made some quick bucks. But, I chose to not give in to the temptation of earning a lot of money. I am a passionate collector of coins and believe that the hobby should not be adulterated by bringing in this angle of money making. Because then, it only becomes an investment opportunity, not something that will help us keep in touch with our rich culture or roots.

When we talk about ancient coins of India that fall under medieval time period, then there are coins issued by famous emperors like Akbar, Jahangir etc. The inscriptions on mughal coinage are also extremely artistic to look at and study. There are certain collectors who are only interested in collecting, just because of their amazing designs. Who can forget the Marathas and its great warrior king, Shivaji. There are many other passionate collectors who are always on the hunt for old coins of India that were issued under the great emperor.

Then comes East India Company issues that were minted when the Britishers started creating colonies on this subcontinent. After the 1857 uprising, India came directly under the British rule and the fight for independence began. It is amazing how can reveal so much about these wonderful historical events and stories. Based on a collector's interests and likes, he or she starts collecting belonging to a particular type or era. When you talk about Indian old coins, you cannot forget about the princely state issues that were minted by various famous princely states. 

The journey of Indian coinage has been a long one indeed. From 6th Century BC to today, you get to explore so many different coins that were issued by our great rulers and kings. Passionate collectors always make it a point to keep researching and increasing their knowledge base. As the market for old Indian coins is booming, one needs to take care when it comes to understanding history for understanding the rarity of a particular old coin of India. Otherwise you might end up paying a higher value for a coin which is not that rare in reality. There are several dealers who make loads of profit by selling old Indian coins. It is always preferred to check with an expert before going ahead and buying an expensive old Indian coin. Research is the key for improving your knowledge. Apart from that, as a collector you must keep attending seminars and lectures on old Indian coins by great numismatists. This is bound to give you a whole new perspective.

The journey of Indian coinage explained in brief that will help collectors who are passionate about collecting Ancient Indian Old Coins.

Three Categories of Indian Notes That Every Collector Needs to Know

 Note Collectors or notaphilists who are new to notes of India, need to have a basic understanding about the different categories. Let's quickly go through the three main categories of notes in India, so that you have a clear direction and vision before you start putting together a collection.

Early Notes of India:

Private and semi-government banks like the Bank of Hindostan, the General Bank in Bengal and Bahar, the Bengal Bank issued some of the oldest Indian note in the 18th century. These notes were issued for three presidencies namely, Bengal, Bombay and Madras, for ease of administration. Old notes of India issued by Bank of Bengal featured designs only on one side and were termed as Uniface Notes. Commerce Notes featuring an allegorical female figure personifying 'commerce' were issued later with designs on both sides. Urdu, Bengali and Devanagari languages were used on these rare note of India. Note belonging to the Britannia series with better security features and complex designs were issued by the end of the 19th century. Bank of Bombay issued early Indian note from 1850 to 1860 and they featured Town Hall of Bombay, statues of Sir Mountstraut Elphinstone and Sir John Malcom. The Bank of Madras was established in 1843 by merging Carnatic Bank (Est. 1788), the Madras Bank (Est. 1795) and the Asiatic Bank (Est. 1804). Madras Bank was the first bank in India which issued old Indian notes from 1682. Bank of Madras notes depicted Sir Thomas Munroe, Governor of Madras.

5 Rupees Bombay Presidency Note

British India Notes:

After the Paper Currency Act of 1861 became effective, the Government took the complete responsibility of issuing notes in India. Presidency Banks became agents for the issue. Currency Circles were introduced to prevent liquidation. The agreements with Presidency Banks were terminated in 1897 and the Government took complete control. Currency note of India from the Victoria Portrait Series featured uniface designs and were printed on handmade paper manufactured at the Laverstock Paper Mills. These old notes of India were cut into half. The first half was sent to the receiver and the second half was sent again after the receipt was confirmed. The Underprint Series was introduced in 1867 with better security features to combat counterfeiting activities. The very first Indian notes from the King's Portrait Series were introduced in May 1923 featuring a portrait of King George V. All British India notes issued after this featured this design. The Currency Note Press in Nasik started printing currency notes in India from 1928. The Reserve Bank of India became the controller of Currency in 1935. Security features were improved further and multicolour printing was also used. Notes depicting a portrait of Edward VIII were supposed to be printed in 1937. But Edward was abdicated from the throne and notes featuring the portrait of King George VI were issued in 1938.

100 Rupees Portrait Note of Queen Victoria

Republic India Notes:

The reserve bank of India continued to issue extant notes even after independence until the republic of India was formed on 26th January 1950. The designs for the very first republic India notes bore the denomination 1 rupee and were issued in the year 1949. Initially, it was almost decided that these notes of India would feature a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi. However, at the last moment, a design featuring the Lion Capital at Sarnath was chosen. Hindi language was highlighted on notes in India from 1953. Rs 1,000, Rs. 5,000, Rs. 10,000 were introduced again in 1954. The note size was reduced in 1967 to cut costs as the country was facing an economic downfall. A special commemorative series featuring a seated Gandhi and Sevagram Ashram in the background was released in 1969 to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Rs. 20 and Rs. 50 notes were issued in 1972 and 1975, respectively. High denomination notes were abolished in 1972. Themes like Science & Technology, Progress, Farm Mechanisation, Indian Art were highlighted through the designs featured on notes of India from the 1980s. Rupee 500 note with a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi was introduced in 1987 to support the rising economy of India. The 'Mahatma Gandhi Series' with better security features was introduced in 1996.

1 Rupee Banknote of Republic India

The currency notes of India has witnessed a lot of changes in terms of designs, denominations and security features. By closely studying the different categories of Indian notes, you will be able to create an exciting collection indeed!

Coin India - Simplify Your research by Understanding Basic Categories

 Considering the vastness of Indian Numismatics, it is very important for young collectors to break it down into basic categories so that it becomes much easier to explore the enormous varieties of Indian coins. If you are looking for the right start, then read on, this is the perfect snapshot for you!

Ancient Coins of India:

In the 6th Century BCE, the Indian subcontinent was divided into 22 different Janapadas and each Janapada issued coins of their own. Ancient Indian coin issued by Gandhara Janapada are considered to be some of the earliest coins of the world. These were rectangular silver coin which featured a six-armed symbol at both ends of one side. The other side of these ancient coins of India was left blank. These historic coin were minted using the punch-marked technique. Coming to ancient Indian empires and kingdoms, the Gupta Empire issued some of the most beautiful coins in India from 320 AD to 550 AD. When it comes to South India, Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas and Pallavas were some of the most powerful dynasties who also issued various types of ancient Indian coin. Then came the coins of Ancient Invaders like Greco-Bactrian, Indo-Greeks, Indo-Scythian, Kushans, Indo-Parthians etc. These amazing coins depict the unique cultures and traditions that these invaders followed.

Medieval India Coins:

When we talk about Indian coins, nobody can miss out on the wonderful coin that were issued by powerful and legendary emperors such as Akbar, Shivaji Maharaj, Tupu Sultan etc. Medieval India coin can be broadly classified into five major groups. Coin issued by the Sultans, the Mughals, Independent Kingdoms, Princely States and Hindu Kingdoms. Coins issued by the Sultans and Mughals featured Persian legends. Some of them even featured beautiful couplets like the ones issued by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Coins issued by Shivaji Maharaj were called as Shivrai. Introducing a new denomination at a time when the Mughals were extremely powerful is considered to be a great achievement. During Shivaji Maharaj's coronation, special Shivrai coins were minted in gold. These gold coin are extremely rare and are sold at auction houses all across the globe.

Colonial India Coins:

After the decline of the Mughal Empire, several European powers started exploiting trading opportunities in India. The most successful of them was the British East India Company who gradually started imposing their power and eventually, India was declared as the official colony of Britain. Initially, coins in India were issued by the East India Company for different circles like the Bengal Presidency, Bombay Presidency and Madras Presidency. After the revolt of 1857, British India coin were officially issued under the Queen's reign. These amazing colonial coin featured a portrait of the Queen or King on one side with the denomination an year of issue on the other side. Apart from British East India Company, several other trading companies like the Dutch East India Company, Danish East India Company, French East India Company and Portugal also issued different kinds of coins in India.

Republic India Coins:

Finally, Republic India coins are the ones that are issued by the Government of India after independence in 1947. Old British India coin were circulated as frozen currency until the first coin of republic India were issued in the year 1950. These Indian coins belonged to the Anna Series. Some of them were struck in different shapes like Square and Scalloped. The decimal coinage was adopted in the year 1957, after which both decimal as well as pre-decimal coin were circulated together for a short period of time. The 2 pice coins issued between 1957 and 1964 featured the legend "Naya Paisa" to differentiate them with the ones of the same denomination that were issued earlier.

The history of Indian coin is so vast that it is impossible to learn everything at one go. You will have to select a category and then dive deep into it, by covering one dynasty/ kingdom at a time. By following this procedure, you will get a fair idea about our glorious past.

Simplify the study of Coins of India by exploring the broad categories of Indian coinage in brief. If you are looking to pursue Indian numismatics seriously, this article is exactly what you need to get started. Understand the basics of Indian coinage so that you can research about the innumerable varieties of coins systematically.