Collecting Stamps of India – The Perfect Stress buster

We live in a day and age when stress has become an organic part of our lives. It all boils down to how you manage your stress in the long run. The number of cases related to depression and suicides are on the rise day by day. There is a need to start a conversation or indulge in something that releases your stress in some way or the other. Though physical exercise for at least half an hour can bring down stress levels to a great extent, hobbies are something that can make a bigger impact. Unlike other common hobbies, collecting Stamps of India doesn’t just bring joy into your lives but also increases your general knowledge.

I have been collecting Indian stamps from the last four years now and the journey has been truly exciting so far. The joy of adding rare Indian stamps in your collection cannot be expressed in words. It definitely boosts your morale and confidence levels greatly. The most fascinating aspect about old Indian stamps is its variety. India is such a vibrant country with so many different cultures, traditions and landscapes that stamps in India are a treat to collect for any philatelist. Moreover, you are keeping your mind engaged on most occasions, trying to read about the imagery depicted on rare stamps of India.

Whenever I am stressed out, I take out my collection of Indian rare stamps and keep gazing at them for hours together. A lot of effort goes into putting together an impressive collection of Indian stamps. Sometimes, all you feel like doing is pull them out of your drawers and appreciate the time you spent on making this collection and the hard work you put in for the same. There are very few hobbies like collecting stamps of India which can give you so much pleasure and knowledge at the same time.     

Ancient Coins of India and their broad classifications

Collectors from all around the world have a fascination for old Indian coins. Many of these ancient coins of India were issued thousands of years ago by various kingdoms and emperors. Indian old coins from the Magadha Mauryan empire speak a lot about the richness of Indian traditions and cultures. They suggest the existence of highly civilized societies within the Indian subcontinent right from ancient times. Moreover, these ancient Indian coins also suggest that the Indian subcontinent was had some of the wealthiest kingdoms of its times.

Ancient coins of India can be classified based on the various janapadas that existed during those days. Gandhara, Magadha, Magadha-mauryan, Kashi, Kuntala and Ayodhya formed the earliest Janapadas starting from 600 BCE. Then there were invaders like Greco-Bactrian, Indo-Greeks, Indo – Scythian, Kushan, Indo – Parthian, Indo Sassanian, Huns etc. who minted coins under their regime as well. The designs, motifs, inscriptions of ancient Indian coins were unique and represented the ruling kingdom which issued them. There is so much to explore that a single lifetime wouldn’t be sufficient to learn about them.

Then there were Mighty kingdoms under the Guptas, Western Kshatrapas and Satavahanas, each of which issued beautiful Indian Old Coins. If you thought that there were powerful kingdoms only in the north, then you are wrong. Old Coin of India struck under south Indian empires like Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas suggest that the Indian subcontinent maintained strong trade relations with foreign lands as well. There were influential city states as well like Mathura, Rajgir, Kolhapur, Ayodhya, Ujjain, Taxila etc., many of which had their own unique coinage. 

Numismatics in India is really exciting. Every coin allows you to understand history at a deeper level. What we have been taught in school is nothing when compared with the number of ancient dynasties that ruled over the Indian subcontinent.

Types of Old Indian Notes that Notaphilists look for

There are several passionate Notaphilist in our country who loves collecting interesting Indian Notes. They follow different themes based on the era in which these currency notes in India were issued. Notes of India can be broadly classified into five categories namely Early Banknotes, British India, Princely states, colonial issues and republic India notes. The kind of notes that a Notaphilist wants to collect is based on personal likes and interests.

There are many others who look for Rare Notes of India with unique serial number. There is another group of collectors who are keen on studying different imageries and motifs on Old Notes of India. No matter which category you fall into, this History of Indian Notes is really exciting and equally fascinating. If you are a true collector, you wouldn’t be satisfied by simply adding Rare Notes of India in your collection. You will take some effort in learning about the historical significance hidden behind these Currency Notes in India. By studying about issue limits and serial numbers of banknotes, you can understand the rarity of notes in your collection. Only if you are aware about these facts, would you will be given your due respect in this community.  

Early banknotes of India can be further classified into specific issues released by the three different presidencies namely, Bengal, Bombay and Madras. British India notes can be categorized into Portrait Note of Queen Victoria, Uniface Note of Government of India, King George V and King George VI. When it comes to old Indian notes issued by Princely states, Hyderabad was the only princely state that released its own Currency Notes of India. Other colonial issues include amazing Indo-French and Indo-Portuguese notes. There are many rare notes of India falling in these categories which have been sold for impressive amounts in auction houses all over the world. And finally, Republic India Notes can be further classified as Government of India issues, Indian Notes released under Reserve Bank of India, Persian Gulf issues and Haj Pilgrim notes.

With so many varieties to look forward to, collecting and studying about Rare Indian Notes is a dream for any Notaphilist!

An Online Museum of Coins with a Difference!

There are some hobbies that don’t just bring joy into our lives. They also help in upgrading our knowledge in some or the other way. Hobbies like coin collection, banknote collection and stamp collection fall under this category.

Passionate collectors make it a point to research about everything that they are collecting. In the age of internet, finding information is just a matter of a few searches and clicks. Authenticity of data is what really matters, especially when it comes to historical information about coins. Apart from that, you won’t find many websites that share all the information you need under one single roof. Mintage world is a one of a kind online museum of coins, banknote museum and stamp museum which offers well-categorized data like never before. It is a paradise for coin collectors, researchers, numismatists, notaphilists, philatelists, historians, students and everyone else who wants to indulge in these exciting hobbies. It allows you to search and filter out data based on multiple parameters.  In case of coins, you can search based on era, rulers, type of coin etc. Similarly, in the case of stamps, you can search based on themes, time periods etc. With respect to banknotes, filers like issue date, denomination, country name etc. make the process of research much simpler.

Moreover, this online museum of coins shares detailed information about all types of coins with obverse/ reverse descriptions, high resolution images, history and much more. Now philatelists or stamp lovers wouldn’t have to look into multiple websites. They can access all that they need through this single online stamp museum. The online banknote museum on Mintage World covers information about all types of Indian banknotes, right from the colonial issues to the republic notes of India. Not just that, the website also lists upcoming events so that you won’t miss any. There are other sections like news, blog, videos, shopping, etc which add value to this unique online museum of coins, online banknote museum and stamp museum.

Why understanding historical significance of Rare Coins in India is essential?

Have you ever wondered why antique coins of India have a lot of respect among numismatic communities all over the world? That’s purely because of the rich historical stories that these antique Indian coins carry along with them. Even though the value of a coin majorly depends on its rarity and condition, there are several instances where the rarest coins of India have been sold for impressive amounts just because of their historical significance. That’s the reason why, every collector should be keen on researching about the historical facts hidden behind these coins. The more you dive into our glorious past, the more you would be amazed! Apart from ancient Indian coins, rare coins of British India and colonial coins have been in the spotlight for quite some time in the numismatic communities now. Being an Indian collector, you should definitely make the most of these wonderful opportunities. Collectors are willing to invest a lot of money into them since they can be easily sold for a higher value, a few years down the line.

You should always be wary of distributors who claim to offer the rarest coins of India. Only if you analyze them deeply, you might find out that they are not so rare. It is always better to take advice from well-known and experienced collectors before investing in expensive antique Indian coins. Expert numismatists can easily make out whether a coin is actually rare or not, since they are backed with sound knowledge about history. You wouldn’t want to put in thousands of rupees into so-called “rare coins of British India” and later realize that their actual market value is not that high.  
Apart from British Indian coins, there are many interesting colonial coins that were issued by other colonies that were established in India like Dutch, Portuguese and French. Many of these antique coins of India are highly sought after by collectors and investors alike. So follow the mantra of understanding history before adding new coins to your collection!

Coins of the world: Watching history through new eyes

Each country has an identity. This identity is defined primarily by that nation’s history. The world is thousands of centuries old and human civilizations started blossoming after a later stage. Human beings are social animals who like living in communities. During stone-age, human beings used to rely on hunting. They later started inventing many new things, including cultivation or agriculture. Barter system was used in the ancient times for exchanging goods. Soon, there was a need to come up with a standard monetary system to buy or sell goods. The earliest coins of the world is supposedly the Lydian Lion from present-day Turkey which were issued from around 600 to 610 BC. These amazing coins preceded Ancient Greek coinage and from there the journey of coins from around the world began. Each king/ emperor or dynasty issued coins for their own territory. They featured unique motifs and symbols that were somewhere related to their kingdom. After a point in history, coins of the world were struck with portraits of kings in different postures. They also featured inscriptions that praised these kings or emperors. 

Coins from around the world are the perfect mediums through which you can traverse back in time. Historians have traced various historical events, successions and conquests based on their research on valuable coins from around the time. Numismatists from across the globe have conducted various studies and researches to demystify those unknown aspects of history. Dating is a process in numismatics using which you can arrive at an approximate age of coins of the world. In one way, these coins from around the world act like time-stamps for identifying various events from the past. That’s the reason why coin collection is one of the most popular hobbies you would find anywhere. This definitely is a more exciting and unique way of learning history, far better than mugging up history text books!

How I found my calling by collecting Old Indian Coins

5 years back, I was a boring man with no particular interests in life. The moment I was introduced to the hobby of collecting old Indian coins, my life changed for the better drastically. I was pursuing a normal day job in the IT industry with a decent salary. I had everything in terms of material possessions and comforts, but I felt incomplete deep within. I was constantly searching for something that would make me happy internally. There was a sense of unrest within me when I realized that there was no meaning to the life I was leading. I had no sense of direction really with every passing day.

One day, my uncle showed me his collection of ancient Indian coins and my eyes lit up. He kept sharing the historical significance of the collection of old Indian coins that he had built over a period of ten long years.  The more we talked about Indian old coins, the more I was fascinated by them. I borrowed one the ancient Indian coins from my uncle to start my own collection. Suddenly, I started having something to look forward to in life. After a long day at work, I used to think of ways in which I could easily grow my collection of Indian old coins. I searched for websites and online communities and started engaging in worthy conversations with fellow collectors from all over the world. I also started devoting some time for researching about all kinds of old Indian coins.  Slowly and steadily, I not only started growing my collection of ancient coins of India but also started improving my knowledge about them.

I found a new direction in life as soon as I started indulging completely in this amazing hobby. I am much happier now since I think I have found my inner calling in Old Coins of India.

Interesting Modern Coins of India to Look Out for as a Collector!

When it comes to numismatics and coin collection in India, ancient, medieval and colonial coins are more popularly collected. That’s majorly because these old coins of India have a historical significance. There is a perception that collecting modern Indian coins is not as exciting as collecting ancient Indian coins. That’s not really the case. There are several types of commemorative coins that you can look out for when it comes to modern coins of India. Modern Indian coins can be broadly classified into two types – the Anna series and decimal coinage. There are many rare modern coins in India as well, since their mintage limit was low. Even though the historical significance of modern coins of India could be low, rarity is something that makes them an interesting addition to your collection.

Did you know that even after India’s independence on 15th August 1947, old British coins were used as frozen currency? 1/2 Re, 1/4 Re, 2 Anna, 1 Anna, 1/2 Anna & 1 Pice coins introduced in 1950, belong to the Anna series.  India shifted to decimal coinage in the year 1957. Modern coins of India that were issued between 1957 and 1964 had the legend “Naya Paisa” on them.  In 1964, modern Indian coins of the denomination 3 paisa were introduced while in 1968, 20 paisa coins were introduced. Both these denominations were not popular. Famous Indian personalities, leaders and historic events have been celebrated with the issue of commemorative modern Indian coins. Look for coins unique commemorative coins that have a low mintage as they would be rarer and more sought after among collectors. 

There is another group of modern Indian coins that you can look out for – error coins! Error coins generally have a great market value since they are unique and extremely rare. But beware of dealers who sell fake error coins by deforming coins intentionally. Also, unlike ancient coins or medieval coins, chances of finding interesting modern Indian coins are higher. 

Investing in Good Quality Philatelic Supplies is a Trademark of Passionate Stamp Collectors!

Stamp collection is more than just a hobby for many. Non-collectors will not understand the joy of collecting stamps. Passionate collectors realise the importance of keeping stamps safe from any kind of moisture or dust. That is where good quality stamp collecting accessories come into the picture. There are many kinds of stamp collecting accessories that you would find in the market like stamp stockbooks, stamp binders, stamp stockpages. Depending on the requirement, you should select the most appropriate philatelic supplies. One should not go for cheap accessories as they might not last long. If these accessories are of poor quality, then there are chances that your stamps will not be protected well. Like they say, there is no point in crying over spilled milk, it is always better to be prepared for any kind of unfortunate events right from the beginning. A stitch in time saves nine. So, it is never too late to invest in good quality philatelic supplies so that the freshness of your priceless collection stays intact.

Image Courtesy: www.mintageworld.com

Many hobbyists do not value the seriousness of philately. Taking things lightly might sting you back in the long run. Take good care of rare stamps in your collection by storing them in stamp binders or stamp stockpages so that when you look at them after several years from now, they are still fresh and colourful. People who come to visit you and take a look at your collection will also have much more respect for you when they see your dedication. Fellow collectors will have more confidence in you and will easily trust you while handing over their stamps to you. Also, when you store your huge collection of stamps in an organised manner, the chances of losing any of them would be even less. Stamp collecting accessories bring in a quality of responsibility within you to ensure that the quality of your stamps never degrades with time.

Enjoying a hobby is one thing and taking it more seriously is another. Who knows you might find one of those rare stamps that not many posses. With dedication, discipline and patience, you can easily scale new heights in philately.

Unique themes to look out in Stamps of India

There are many ways in which you can study about India’s rich culture, history and tradition. The best way would be to collect stamps of India because they reflect different aspects of our past in a colorful way. For collectors who are interested in unique themes, Indian stamps are a dream to collect. Themes like important personalities, events, inventions etc are featured on rare Indian stamps. Over the years, the market for old Indian Stamps has increased due to the kind of unique themes that they follow. One of the themes is horses of India, another one depicts Himalayan flowers. There is a beautiful set of Indian stamps that portrays the evolution of Indian railways through the ages. Locomotive engines are also depicted on another set of lovely stamps in India. Some of the rare Indian stamps featuring Mahatma Gandhi have been sold for an impressive amount. Apart from rarity, the condition of stamps also matters when it comes to auctions. Avoid adding folded or soiled stamps to your collection, since other collectors wouldn’t be too keen on acquiring them.

India post keeps coming up with unique themes and topics. This maintains the excitement levels of those who collect stamps in India. PM Narendra Modi recently released a set of stamps depicting various aspects of Lord Rama and Ramayana, one of the greatest Indian epics. Then there are scented stamps of India which come with the odour of sandalwood, coffee and jasmine. If you are interested in collecting unique and rare Indian stamps, these amazing scented stamps would be a great add on for your collection. Generally, all stamps are either square shaped or rectangular. There are some uniquely shaped stamps in India like the hexagonal stamp featuring turtles. It is really an ocean out there if you are interested in collecting stamps of India. Keep looking out for these wonderful stamps and add value to your collection.

How study of coins from around the world can bring countries closer

We have all become so self-obsessed that we love living in our own small world. Nobody today wants to explore and go beyond the obvious. In times like these, when climate change and terrorism has affected most of us, there is a constant need to be compassionate towards other countries, traditions, religions and ideologies. For that to happen, one needs to open up horizons and start learning about world history. This will help us in understanding where certain thought processes emerge from and where the future of a particular country is headed. Studying coins of the world is a great way to closely understand world history. Coins from around the world give us a fair idea about the kings and emperors who ruled a particular location. It also helps us identify cultural as well as traditional influences that might have occurred due to invasions and conquests.
 
Many think that collecting world of coins is merely a pastime. It is definitely not the case for serious and passionate collectors of coins of the world. They are keener on understanding and analyzing the historical significance behind world coin collection. There is another set of collectors who are only interested in investing in valuable coins from around the world, simply to make some quick money. There should always be a larger motive behind collecting coins from around the world. By studying coins of the world you are bringing people from different countries together. There can be nothing better than uniting the world through a fun-filled hobby!

It is only when we start accepting each other as citizens of one world that we will realise the true importance of peace. Communal hatred and wars have destroyed nations completely taking the lives of thousands of innocent people every day. We need to draw the line somewhere and start respecting people and their beliefs, the way they are.  

Currency Notes of India are a reflection of our country’s past!

There are different ways in which you can study the evolution of a country like India. One of those ways is by studying Currency Notes of India , right from the time when they were first issued. Old notes of India include the ones that were issued by princely states like Hyderabad as well. Then there were some Indian Notes that were circulated by the different presidencies like Bombay, Madras and Bengal. These notes were valid only in specific territories that were created by the British East India Company for the ease of administration. Currency Notes in India also feature special security features that have changed with time. The latest notes of India come with world-class security features that reduce counterfeiting to a great extent. When you start collecting and learning about Indian Notes from different time periods, you get to analyze the economic situation during those days.

Only passionate collectors of Old Notes of India will understand the true joy of the hobby. Yes, you can make a lot of money by collecting Rare Notes of India, but money is not the only thing you should expect from the hobby. The sheer knowledge that you gain from pursuing a hobby like this is absolutely priceless. Apart from the historical significance behind Currency Notes in India, there are some collectors who are interesting in collecting Indian Notes which feature special serial numbers. These Notes of India are given different names like solid number note, super solid number note etc. based on the kind of serial number that the banknote features. You won’t always find historic Indian Notes. You have to be patient and look out for modern Rare Notes of India with special kind of serial numbers. That’s how you keep the excitement levels high in this hobby!
So get going and start collecting!
   

Why are Stamps of India so Popular?

There are many reasons why collectors from around the world love collecting Stamps of India. Being a country which is so diverse in terms of culture, traditions and history, there are a wide range of topics that are covered through Indian stamps. Youngsters can easily upgrade their knowledge about our country by studying old Indian stamps in detail. There are many stamps of India that celebrate your freedom fighters while there are many others which showcase the rich wildlife of our nation. If you are a topical collector then there are varied subjects that can be touched upon. Apart from that, there are some rare Indian stamps which have been sold for impressive rates by auction houses across the world. This shows the genuine interest among collectors for enhancing their collection of rare stamps of India. So, whenever you get a chance, add old Indian stamps to your collection and do what you can to protect them.

If you are a first time stamp collector, the best way to start collecting Indian stamps is by heading straight to the post office. You can take a look at the latest releases and select the ones which you like the most. All you will have to do is pay the postal rates. Once you can added your first set of old Indian stamps to your collection, you can start building your network by connecting with like-minded collectors. There are so many online groups and social media communities out there, that talking to someone from the other end of the world also seems extremely easy. You can then step out and visit those exhibitions which display rare Indian stamps to learn more about them. You could also refer books on philately where you might find some handy tips for collecting stamps in India. The options are limitless really; all you need are good intent, passion, discipline and patience!