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Heritage in coins
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The Madras Coin Society, based at Virugambakkam, is a voluntary organisation devoted to the preservation, study and research of coins, seals, medals and paper money. It is holding an exhibition, "Coinex 2002 - Chennai" from August 15 to 18 at theD. G. Vaishnav College.
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COINS, COINS, coins... All of us love to hear their sweet jingling in our pockets and purses. Yet, few people know that coins have a unique connection with history. And, this link is, at once, intimate, romantic and real. It is a connection one can feel, touch and read, hold in the palm of one's hand, yet around which one can also conjure up the din and noise of archaic mints, the brisk commerce along ancient trade-routes and bazaars, the sacrifices of soldiers, war horses and elephants, the variegated lifestyle of the rulers and the ruled.
Old coins and bank notes are not merely sources of history but also objects of art and symbols of our culture and heritage. Numismatics is the science pertaining to the systematic collection, preservation and study of coins. A sister branch of numismatics is notaphily viz. the collection and study of paper currency. The recent decades have witnessed a growing awareness of the importance of numismatics and notaphily and the birth of a series of organisations for the promotion of numismatic studies. The Madras Coin Society (MCS) based at Virugambakkam, Chennai, is one such organisation.
The MCS was born way back on April 14, 1991, when a small group of six enthusiastic coin-collectors met at the Woodlands Drive-in Restaurant on Cathedral Road over a cup of coffee to discuss their hobby. Today, the MCS is the largest voluntary organisation in the whole of South India, exclusively devoted to the conservation and study of coins, seals, medals and paper money. It has over 370 members from all parts of the country, the U.K. and the U.S. The members hailing from varied backgrounds and belonging to different age groups include coin-collectors, research students, historians and those interested in the subject.
The members meet on the fourth Sunday of each month to discuss, display and exchange coins and paper money. True to its motto, `Save Heritage: Save Coins', the MCS has initiated several activities to increase awareness about coins among the general public. The MCS publishes an annual bulletin featuring the important discoveries and studies of its members. The bulletins are well illustrated and are of equal interest to serious researchers and lay readers.
Unlike most other organisations of its kind, the MCS continually interacts with academic institutions and organises seminars and workshops for the benefit of its members. In March, 2000, the MCS, in collaboration with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), organised the first-ever national workshop on numismatics for the benefit of High School and College teachers of the city.
The MCS also maintains a small library of numismatics-related books, journals and newspaper clippings.
Another interesting activity of the MCS is its annual exhibition called "Coinex" where the members display their collections. Prizes are awarded to the best exhibits. This year, "Coinex 2002" will be held at the N. C. K. Hall of the D. G. Vaishnav College in Arumbakkam from August 15 to 18. It will be inaugurated by S. R. Dhamani, secretary of the college, on August 15 at 4 p.m. It is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on August 16 and 17, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August 18. The MCS extends a special invitation to school and college groups for the event. For more details,
e-mail to Hemachandra Rao, president, MCS, at madrascoinex@apolloquest.com
About the exhibitions
THE MCS'S forthcoming annual exhibition `Coinex 2002 - Chennai' will display coins from almost all periods of Indian history. In particular, the exhibits will include coins of the Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas of the Sangam Age, the Malaiyamans, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Mughals and the Vijayanagar Empire. There will be a separate section on Indo-European coins and paper money.
Members of the MCS will be available at the exhibition to explain the historical significance of the coins. They will also provide guidance to those desirous of pursuing coin-collection as a hobby. Select coins, coin albums and coin-related books will also be available for sale.
S. SURESH
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