For this homoeopath,collecting coins and stamps is more than a hobby

But he doesn’t just have coins from a particular era or region. Sood is collecting the regal or yearly-minted coins from the reigns of Mughal kings including Jahangir,Aurangzeb,Muhammad Shah and Shah Aalam.

How does he figure out what the coins read? “I specially learnt Urdu for the purpose. Since the script is very similar to Persian,I can understand easily what year the coin was issued.”

Those who have tried collecting anything old will know how difficult it is to get hold of such rarities,he agrees and added,“I frequently go to jewellery stores for such coins and am also a life-long member of the Varanasi Numismatics Group. This helps me to exchange and buy coins from co-members. Now,I mostly buy them from e-bay. In fact,that’s where my credit card gets used most of the time!”

As we look around,we catch sight of two shelves with blue bound books and we know we’ve hit the jackpot! Inside these lay stamps according to place,theme and year. These include stamps of ships,aeroplanes,animals,insects,fish,dinosaurs (they were printed only in Hungary and some in Mongolia),cars,Olympic games and trains to name a few. But this happens to be only the tip of an iceberg. Back home,he has the full stock on display. Before we leave,we’re reminded to ask him of his favourite collection.

“For a collector,every coin is special. But my most favourite is the set of Kushan coins my uncle gifted me 15 years ago.” Sood is obviously not just a doctor of the present. He’s equally so of the wonders of the past.