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Chronicling history behind coins
SOUVIK CHOWDHURY
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A consortium of coins and currencies, in the form of a sprawling International Numismatics Museum and Research Centre (INMRC) likely to be set up in Hyderabad at the earliest, will prove invaluable to all.
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COIN CHRONICLES: Crowds thronged the exhibition to mark the 100-year anniversary of the Saidabad. — Photo: Mohd Yousuf
IN 1919, `Egypt' - a ship on its way from London, sank in a place 100 kilometres off the coast of Marseilles, France. Along with the huge shipment of gold, the ship was carrying an equally huge consignment of `unsigned' currency notes printed at London, for the Nizam of Hyderabad.
In 1933, a different crew salvaged the ship for the gold, and out with it came the currencies - soiled but not spoilt! To mark their accomplishment, the crew members signed all the notes, which would have otherwise been signed by the Nizam's finance minister.
Along with the display of these retrieved notes, the proposed International Numismatics Museum and Research Centre (INMRC), would also showcase badges, that were driving licences issued in 1903 by the Nizam's police department, to be worn on the right hand by the driver. There were only eight cars in Hyderabad then!
Coin moulds in Brahmi script dating back to the seventh century, seals of British Governor Generals, Mughal emperor Akbar's gold half-mohur that depicts Rama and Sita, Jehangir's zodiac coins, watermark papers that were being imported from London to print Indian currencies at Nasik during the time of King George VI, and undated primitive coins from Mohenjedaro and Harappa, are among the thousands of other rare historically inestimable collections that the INMRC will house. In addition to the rarities, the research centre will also contain other fascinating objects such as beads, wampum, dentalia and other commodities, once used as money.
Disclosing that the proposal submitted to the Central Government on setting up a modern numismatics museum in Hyderabad is under "active consideration", Academy for Promotion & Research in Numismatics (APRN) managing trustee, Kanti Kumar Sevak says, "About 60,000 sq.ft. of area is under consideration for the museum, which will be the first and the only one-of-its kind museum in the world."
The APRN had submitted the proposal in 2001, after which it started corresponding with different museums of the country, and even abroad, to form a consortium to help compile and create the exclusive numismatic museum. "Coinage history is very vast. Unless there is coordination and assemblage of knowledge and resources, the research centre can never come to a pass," says Sevak, a professional numismatist, who had recently organised an exhibition of his personal collection at the Saifabad mint which completed 100 years.
The INMRC, besides attracting tourists, is expected to be extremely resourceful for numismatists worldwide who can come and study the different facets of coinage history, seals, medals, tokens and arrange for their proper classification to provide scope for further research.
"We are also pressing our demand to introduce an optional course on numismatic science for college students. In case of that, the research centre will prove invaluable," explains the APRN managing trustee. A state-of-the-art library on the same subject has also been proposed by the academy.
In the blueprint of the proposal are massive halls, where regular exhibitions, film/video shows and slide displays will be held. "We shall also organise periodical seminars, symposiums, conferences, lectures and workshops, on the subject of Numismatics to create public interest in the hobby," says Sevak as he gets enthusiastic, "Just let it come about."
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