How to Classify Antique Indian Coins like Colonial Coins

Antique coins of India have always been the favorites among numismatists and coin collectors all over the world. From ancient coins to rare coins of British India, each one of them has a lot of historical value and significance. Today, let us take a brief look at the colonial coins that were issued when the Indian subcontinent was under the reign of different foreign powers. Rare coins in India that were struck during this time period have been sold at auction houses for handsome amounts. If we have to broadly classify these antique Indian coins, then we can categorize them as follows: Dutch East India Company, Danish East India Company, French East India Company, British Colony, Madras Presidency coins, Bengal Presidency coins, Bombay Presidency coins, British India, Indo-Portuguese, Kingdom of Portugal, Republic of Portugal and Ceylon. Surprised to know about so many categories? Many collectors have a misconception that colonial coins are the coins that are issued only under British India, which is incorrect.

 With so many options available, you can look towards enhancing your collection of antique Indian coins by making it more diverse and unique. Rare coins of British India produced during the East India Company days can be broadly classified as those that were issued under Queen Victoria (1838 to 1853) and the ones that were issued under William IV (1837 -1837). After that, India was divided into presidencies for administrative purposes. These three presidencies, namely Bombay, Bengal and Madras, started issuing their own coins. These were followed by British India coins that were issued under various rulers like Victoria Queen, Victoria Empress, Edward VII, George V and GEORGE VI.  Indi-Portuguese old coins of India were struck under the regime of various kings and emperors like, Alfonso VI, Joao, Pedro IV, Pedro III, etc.  There is so much to explore really.

Yes, it is very difficult to own the rarest coins of India as they have a high demand and are extremely expensive. However, you can definitely keep growing your collection by adding other coins that belong to various other rarely-known and unique categories.  Once you start reading about the above mentioned categories, you will definitely know what to look for!

How to Go about Building a Commendable Collection of Indian Notes

Currency notes in India are available today in different denominations like 1 rupee, 5 rupees, 10 rupees, 20 rupees, 50 rupees, 100 rupees, 500 rupees and 2000 rupees. Indian notes of the denomination 1000 rupees were banned in November 2017 along with the then-circulating 500 rupee notes. The decision was taken by PM Narendra Modi to curb black money. Notes of India of the denomination 2000 rupees is the latest addition in the family. Designs of Currency notes of India of the denomination rupees 10, rupees 50 and rupees 500 have been recently changed as well. History of Indian notes has always been fascinating, right from the first issues that were released during the colonial rule to the latest 2000 rupees notes. It gives you an idea about the economic condition of those times. Those who are interested in collecting and studying about currency notes of India, or any other country for that matter, are known as notaphilsts.

You will find different kinds of notaphilists. Some are interested in collecting uniface notes from British India, while there are many others who are on the lookout for modern notes of India with fancy serial numbers. You would be surprised to know that there are collectors who are willing to even pay lakhs of rupees for a single note with a fancy serial number. A lot depends on the condition of notes, their rarity and market demand.  That’s the reason why you should make sure that you are storing your collection of precious Indian notes in quality note collecting accessories so that their condition remains intact over several years. There is no use if you have rare notes of India in your collection but are unable to preserve their condition. Once a note is folded or is slightly torn, their market value reduces drastically!
    
There are a very few hobbies which not only give you immense joy but also increase your knowledge. Apart from patience and dedication, you also need to have an eye for noticing interesting serial numbers or combinations on banknotes. It is sometimes difficult to find old notes of India or rare notes of India. There is no point in getting frustrated. You can rather utilize the same time in researching about the history of Indian banknotes or searching Indian notes with unique serial numbers.

What has my love for old Indian coins given me in return!

What happens when you are sitting idle? All sorts of unwanted thoughts start troubling your mind. With time, we gradually get engulfed in depression and keep neglecting the situation until it has caused serious damage to your health. Keeping ourselves occupied in interesting hobbies can make us happy from within. Instead of watching TV or listening to songs, you can take up a more useful hobby like collecting old Indian coins. I was a small kid when I was introduced to an old coin of India by my grandfather. Ever since then, I developed a liking for ancient coins of India. I still have an eye for beautiful Indian old coins and take necessary steps every now and then for adding value to my collection.

Coming to the benefits of a hobby like collecting ancient Indian coins; it is definitely a unique way to get in touch with our glorious past and traditions. Reading history books can be very boring after a point. There is nothing like holding and feeling a sound evidence of history in your very hands. Youngsters of today’s times are busy wasting their time on the internet. A hobby like collecting Indian old coins can utilize your free time in the most fruitful manner. Another advantage of collecting Indian old coins is that they can fetch you a good amount if you sell them after a few years. A hobby can slowly turn into a business idea.

From the day I started collecting interesting ancient coins of India, I started researching about them on a daily basis. Nobody was after me, I was self motivated to do my research. Over the years, I not only increased my collection of old coins of India but also increased by knowledge base as well. As of now, I don’t have any plans to sell my collection of unique ancient Indian coins to anybody. They are so priceless for me that I might never be able to sell them off in the near future. But I do like interacting with like minded numismatists and understanding the market value of these lovely coins!

Preserve the Dying Hobby of collecting postcards with good quality Postcard Accessories!

Some pictures make a perfect memory. The best thing to do when you are missing your loved ones is take out those old photo albums and start reliving those amazing memories again. Same is the case with postcards; they are attached to a lot of emotions and moments from a particular travelogue. When someone is visiting a new destination, it was a trend to send special postcards from that location to loved ones. Almost like giving someone special a glimpse of what you are experiencing. The back sides of a postcard generally had space to write your message, a section to write the receiver’s address and a place to stick a postage stamp. They were generally sent directly without putting them inside envelopes.

There was a time when collecting postcards was very popular. Especially when people used to write letters for their dear ones! Times have changed quickly and nobody really feels the need to write down a letter. Why would someone do that when the digital world has opened up so beautifully! There are a million ways in which you can communicate with someone who is at the other end of the world today. One of the darker sides of this blooming technology is the gradual loss of interest in this hobby of collecting postcards. There are different kinds of imageries that go on postcards. Most of them are sceneries or important locations of a particular city. Others could be something very generic in nature.

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No matter what kinds of postcards that you are interested in collecting, make sure to buy the best quality postcard collecting supplies. Many a times what happens is that you tend to keep postcards haphazardly. In such situations, the chances of misplacing something interesting from your valuable collection are extremely high. To avoid such disastrous situations, it is best to invest in the right kind of postcard album, postcard collection album and postcard plastic pockets to best suit your requirements. This way, you are also ensuring that you are keeping your postcards in a more organised manner.

Collecting old postcards is also a dying hobby that only a few groups around the world are following. There is something special about an old heart-warming message written on a lovely postcard. Only those who are into this hobby passionately would know the importance of investing in good quality postcard accessories like postcard album, postcard collection album, postcard plastic pockets etc. What is the point if you have taken the pain of collecting your favourite postcards and a cup of tea spills over the entire collection! Before that nightmare actually happens, shop right away!

Stamps of India - a Reflection to our Vibrant Country

India is known all over the world for its vibrant cultures and rich history. From ancient times, the Indian subcontinent has been eyed by foreign invaders because of its wealth and natural resources. Even after independence, India has gained its respect because of its accommodating nature towards multiple ethnicity and religions.  Same is the case with geography, wildlife, architecture, art etc. When there are so many defining aspects of a country, imagine the variety of Indian stamps that our postal department might have released over the years. Stamps of India that were released before independence generally featured portraits of kings and queens. However, the ones that were released after independence touch upon various interesting topics. Topical collectors around the world are always on the lookout for these interesting and rare stamps of India.

First Day Covers of commemorative Stamps in India are also always on the limelight. Various collectors come up with their own ideas when it comes to First Day Covers. When these covers feature rare Indian stamps, their values in the Philatelic market also increases. You can begin by selecting a topic of your interest and start building a set for the same. For example, you will find several interesting Indian stamps that feature birds on them. If you are a nature lover then you will be keen on collecting these beautiful Old stamps of India Suppose you are into sports, then you can start by collecting some fascinating Indian stamps that celebrate different kinds of sports on them.

Children today are getting addicted by mobile games and videos on internet. By encouraging them to collect Indian Stamps, they will start increasing general knowledge. Once you start developing a liking for the hobby, you would naturally try to research about the imagery that is portrayed on Indian stamps.

There were times when stamp collecting was a popular hobby. But ever since internet communication has opened up in a grand new way, letters have become a thing of the past. There is a need to revive this beautiful and exciting hobby. Collecting and researching about rare stamps of India will not only give you joy but also will increase your knowledge about our motherland!

Misconceptions while Investing in Coin Collecting Accessories

If you love something or someone from your heart, you will leave no stone unturned to keep them safe and happy. Coins may not mean a lot for many of us, but for any passionate coin collector, coins are their world. They put in a lot of effort into research about coins. They also invest a lot of time and money into building their unique collection. That’s the reason why, they will also make sure that their coins are in safe hands always. Understanding the importance of quality coin collecting accessories is essential for every collector. Those who do not value their collection, end up degrading their coins over a period of several years.

There is a general misconception among collectors that since coins are made of metals, they would not be affected by anything. But the fact remains that when coins come in contact with any kind of moisture or dust, they turn blackish due to oxidisation. This is more commonly seen in silver coins. Experts from the field of numismatics have always advised that coins should be stored in quality coin collecting supplies. Rare coins should be handled with utmost care because you might have put in lakhs of rupees for buying them.

Another misconception that collectors have is that coins can be cleaned up later to revive their original sheen. What they forget is that cleaning by using corrosive methods can further degrade their value. It is best to be cautious from the beginning. Think about it. Would you stop taking care of your baby by saying that you would rectify problems when he or she grows up? 

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There are different kinds of coin collecting supplies that you will find in the market like coin albums, coin pages, coin capsules, coin holders, coin storage boxes etc. all of which, have their own functionalities. First, analyse your requirements and then go ahead buying the best affordable coin collecting accessories for your beloved collection.  This will preserve the sharpness of your coin designs for a lifetime.

If you don’t have a habit of storing your coins correctly and methodically, then there are chances that you might lose them as well. When you collection keeps on growing over a period of time, storing coins based on different categories becomes even more important! That’s where these amazing coin collection supplies come into the picture. 

So don’t live in your old bubble of misconceptions, buy quality coin collecting accessories right away!

Tracing history through Coins of Mahadji Shinde

Mahadji Shinde was a ruler of Gwalior State under the Maratha Empire. He was the one who was responsible for expanding Maratha power in North India after the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. Coins of Mahadji Shinde are found in various types. One of the types of Mahadji Shinde coins is the silver rupee struck in the name of Shah Alam II struck at Gwalior Mint.

Mahadji Shinde was a lieutenant of the Peshwa. Madhavrao I, Nana Fadnavis and Mahadji Shinde helped greatly in reviving Maratha Power. Gwalior became the top state of Maratha Empire and had the biggest military power in India during Mahadji’s rule. He helped Shah Alam II restore the Mughals to Delhi in 1771.

Mahadji Shinde Coins are found in various fractions of rupee denomination as well. By studying these coins of Mahadji Shinde, you will get a clear idea about the economic condition of those times and also about his association with the Mughals. Coins of Mahadji Shinde were struck at Gwalior mint. Mahadji Shinde coins of the denomination 1 rupee weighed 11.25 gm, had a diameter or around 22 to 23 mm. The Legend on coins of Mahadji Shinde named Shah Alam. They also featured the AH date and mint name: Gwalior Fort.

 After overpowering the Jats of Mathura, he defeated the Pashtun Rohillas in Rohilkhand and captured Najibabad in 1772 and 1773. He was the biggest threat to the British during the First Anglo-Maratha War which ended with the Treaty of Salbai in 1782. The treaty allowed him to mediate between the Peshwa and the British. It recognized Sawai Madhavrao as the Peshwa and granted Raghunath Rao a pension. All his territories west of the Yamuna along with Ujjain were given back.

He later attacked Rajput states like Jodhpur and Jaipur. Sikh sardars of the cis-Sutlej region also paid tributes to him. Mahadji defeated the Nizam of Hyderabad’s army, after which the Nizams restricted itself in the Deccan region. He signed a peace treaty with Tipu Sultan in 1792. He later used his influence to protect Tipu Sultan in a treaty between the British, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the Peshwa.

Mahadji Shinde history can be beautifully traced back through his coinage. That’s the reason why numismatics plays such a vital role in exploring the unknown facts hidden in the pages of history.

Why is there a Demand for Antique Coins of India?

Antique objects have a charm of their own. They are preserved over a period of several years and become even more attractive as they keep aging. There is huge group of people across the world which is very interested in collecting antique coins of India. They are in great demand in the world of numismatics because of their historical significance. Some of the rarest coins of India including rare coins of British India have been sold by auction houses for a lot of money. That’s the reason why antique Indian coins sometimes are collected for investment purposes. Businessmen and dealers buy these rare coins in India and sell them off after a few years when their value appreciates.

Rare coins of British India come under a wide category of colonial coins. Coins minted under the
Another important aspect about collecting antique Indian coins is the source of information. Make sure that you are not learning the wrong things by referring the wrong source of Information. Always take a second opinion from experts before purchasing the rarest coins of India.  Some of these experts have been in this field for several years which is why they would notice something in a coin which you might have not noticed. Even they would have committed mistakes during the starting years, which is why sharing knowledge with younger collectors develops goodwill within the community.
So it is time to start building your collection of antique Indian coins right away.

regime of France, Dutch, Portuguese rules also come under this category. If you want to start collecting antique Indian coins, then select a category of your choice and study about them deeply. Research is something that gives you an upper hand in this field of numismatics. When you are backed by knowledge, then you are sure that no dealer can ever fool you. Many a times the value of certain antique coins of India is increased on purpose even though they are not rare. If you have done your research about rare coins of British India, then you can you will never buy common coins at a higher value.

Why All Passionate notaphilists have Banknote Collecting Supplies handy!

If you really love something or someone you would take care of it/him/her with all your heart. You wouldn’t want that something or someone to get spoilt or fall ill for that matter. Be it a special gift that means more than a gift to you or your own family members, you would want to keep all of them close to your heart. Same is the case with a notaphilist or someone who loves collecting banknotes. They take a lot of effort in putting together a special collection of banknotes from scratch. Some of them take several years to find a banknote that they have been eagerly looking for. That’s the reason why they make it a point to store their rare notes in good quality banknote accessories.

These banknote accessories come in different sizes and shapes these days like a banknote collectors album, a banknote storage box or banknote sleeves. Depending on what your requirements are, you can select banknote collecting supplies of your choice! Also, you would find them all on the internet. There are several shopping portals where you can buy branded banknote collecting supplies at the best prize possible!

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Banknote sleeves can protect your special banknotes from any kind of dust or moisture. This will maintain their condition for years to come. In fact protecting banknotes is as important as collecting them for every notaphilist. This will ensure that the value of your collectibles does not diminish with time. Rare and old banknotes that you buy today might fetch you an impressive amount in the future. That’s the reason why a banknote storage box will come in handy in the long run!

Another important thing to remember is that you should never fold your banknotes no matter how lengthy they are. You must keep then nice and straight in a good quality banknote collector’s album. Folded banknotes leave behind a mark at the centre forever, degrading its condition even further. 

If you are passionate about notaphily, then you would definitely take the necessary steps to keep your notes in top condition by storing them in quality banknote accessories!

There’s no Age for Collecting Stamps of India

I have been collecting stamps of India ever since I was 10 years old. From then on, there has been no looking back. There are many people who think that stamp collecting is a hobby for the kids. Those who have that opinion don’t know that there is a huge community of philatelists in the world who specialize in rare stamps of India. Many of these Indian rare stamps have been sold at international auction houses for lakhs of rupees. Apart from that, money is not everything in life. One has to be passionate about something that will keep him or her excited always.

What is the point in living each day just like yesterday. There has to be something unique that you learn every day. Indian stamps are my source to that uniqueness that I keep craving for. My collection of old Indian stamps is a window to some of the most fascinating aspects about our country’s history, traditions, nature, wildlife, flora, geography, landmarks, events, personalities and more.  

As technology is picking up at a very fast rate, writing letters has become a thing of the past. The

chances of finding kids of today’s generation indulging in a hobby like stamp collecting are very feeble. That’s the reason why it is our responsibility to introduce kids to the amazing world of Indian stamps. You can take them to the nearest post office and show them the latest stamps in India.

My kids too were not too keen in taking up this hobby even after I showed them my collection of old Indian stamps. But slowly, as I started narrating the stories behind these rare stamps of India, they became more and more curious to learn. I also lent them a few interesting Indian stamps from my own collection to start theirs. Today they meet their friends and discuss about old Indian stamps whenever they get some time. They also motivate their friends to indulge in stamp collecting.

So, if you really want to do it, you will find a way to do it! Doesn’t matter what the society thinks about you. Keep listening to your heart and continue collecting beautiful Indian stamps as long as you are healthy enough to do so!

Precautions to be taken while Investing in Coins of the world

 Have you ever thought of collecting coins of the world? Coin collection is a fun hobby that is popular all over the world since a long time now. Scientific evidence proves that the hobby not only reduces stress levels but also increases your knowledge in a great way. There are many ways in which you can start building your collection of valuable coins from around the world. The internet and latest communication platforms allow you to connect with different collectors from different corners of the earth, making things much simpler. Today you can showcase pictures of your collection online and look for interested parties with just a few clicks. Networking has become more convenient with the advent of new internet technologies and platforms. The best part is that the value of these coins keeps appreciating with time. If you were to sell some interesting world coins after a period of three to four years, you might end up making a lot of profit.

Coin exhibitions and related events are the best places where you can find rare world coins. You need to be very careful when you are putting in a lot of money on coins from around the world, because there are chances that they are not as precious or rare. That’s the reason why it becomesextremely important to keep researching about valuable coins from around the world. Knowledge is something that will take you a long way in the field of numismatics where there are many who are looking to sell their fake coins for a worthy amount. Again, there are thousands of websites that share information about different kinds of rare world coins. You need to be careful about the authenticity of information. You must refer trusted sources and online catalogues whenever it comes to researching about coins from around the world. This will ensure that you are not fooled by dealers and distributors in any way. It is always better to do your complete research before purchasing expensive world coins. You could also consider taking a second opinion from expert collectors or numismatists.

Also remember that greed might misguide you to take a wrong decision. Trusting your instincts is one thing and checking facts and figures is another. Many collectors gamble by taking risky decisions and end up losing a lot of money!

My Favourite Piece from my collection of Currency notes of India

When we think of Indian notes, all we think about is cash in our wallets. But if you are a passionate collector or notaphilist, you will go one step further. Notaphilists will take their time and keep looking at notes of India for hours together. They would try their best for finding out the history of Indian notes along the various symbolic depictions on them. Many would wonder what is so exciting about collecting Currency notes of India. Collecting notes is a hobby which is not very popular, but those who do it are the ones who can explain the joy of indulging in notaphily.

I have been collecting old notes of India since five years now, but I still think that there is a lot to achieve. Some of the expert collectors that I met recently have amazing collections of rare notes of India like the ones that were issued during the British times. Sometimes I wished I had some of those in my collection of Indian notes, but that’s how it is. You won’t find what you are looking for unless and until you are passionately trying to find it wholeheartedly. If I was asked to choose the most special piece form my collection of currency notes in India, I would be a super solid 1 Re note that was issued in 1917. Very recently our 1 rupee note celebrated its hundredth anniversary and I felt proud of owning a piece of history with me. I also have an interesting collection of colonial notes that were issued by the French and Portuguese. Some collector friends continuously lure me to sell those beautiful notes of India, but deep down they know that I will never do that ultimately. That’s the main difference between a collector and a dealer who is only looking to make some quick money by buying and selling notes randomly.

I have inculcated the habit of closely analyzing every Indian notes that comes to me. My friends sometimes laugh at me, but I don’t really care because collecting old notes of India is my passion and will continue doing it as and when I get some free time.    

   

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.