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.
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| 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.
