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Coin collection is his passion
Numismatist Satyabuddu displaying his collection of coins.
He had no hobbies worth the name and used to wander in the streets of Old Town, making his father's friends pass snide comments on him. That was way back in 1960s. Today the very mention of his name brings to the mind, the sight of coins and stamps.
Readers must have by now guessed that the reference is to Dowrupalli Satyabuddu, noted numismatist and philatelist, who has made it to the Millennium edition of the `Limca Book of Records' for his collection of coins on "wildlife". At that time (2000), he had 505 coins of 141 countries, embossed with the pictures of birds and animals. Today, his collection on wildlife coins has gone up to 600 and the number of countries to150. This year, he has again applied for entry into the `Limca Book' for his collection of coins on "famous personalities". He has 685 coins of 140 countries.
His profound love for coins is to be experienced to be believed. In fact, it may take days to go through carefully his entire collection of over 10,000 coins. He has classified them into various categories like those pertaining to various dynasties in ancient India, coins issued by the British in India, coins of different countries, coins on flowers, bi-metal coins... The list is endless.
Satyabuddu does not rest content by just collecting coins. He gathers information and pictures from various books and other sources about the personality, the dynasty and other things of significance with reference to the coins. He spends thousands of rupees on collection of books on coins.
The Greeks were the first to mint coins around 650 B.C. in the Greek settlements in Lydia, Western Turkey. Several coins were found by archaelogists in the Greek cities.
The smallest coin known as `Mashak' was used in Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra in 450 B.C. It was a silver coin and the embossing was done on one side only while the other side was plain.
Coins displaying wildlife.
It was his father D. Appalaswamy, who was a superintendent in the Visakhapatnam Port Trust, who had kindled the interest in philately and numismatics in him. Appalaswamy used to give stamps and coins, and thus began Satyabuddu's odyssey. The hobby, which he developed in his high school has become a passion in his later life. He joined the Port as an electrician in the Ore Handling Complex and is now sub-station supervisor.
The port job came in handy to befriend people from across the seas and further his hobby of coin and stamp collection. He has friends globally who keep writing to him. A nautical expert and training master, Hans Touw, from Holland sent Satyabuddu 1,000 picture post cards of different countries on a single day (February 5, 1993).
Satyabuddu generated the interest of coin collection in his wife Sucharita and daughters Satya Harini and Satya Praveena.
He was felicitated by District Collectors Veena Ish, JSV Prasad and Sunil Sharma. He was also honoured by the Russians employed in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant on two occasions.
Satyabuddu, who is also a trekker, has participated in 100 trekking expeditions so far.
His first national was the Trekking Expedition to the Eastern Ghats in 1985. He is a contented man today and his only goal is to enter the Guinness Book for his collection of coins.
B.M.G.
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