Under the hammer,rare Shivaji era coin

“All these rare items come from one of three sources — people who own old coins belonging to their families for several generations,old collectors and jewellers who get these coins. All we do is bring together sellers and buyers who otherwise don’t know how to contact each other,” said Malcolm F Todywalla,organiser of the auction. Started 40 years ago by his father,Todywalla’s is among the few licence-holding buyers and sellers of old coins today.

Giving some interesting insight into some of his collections,Todywalla said,“The

Re 1 coin that I have was in circulation in 1960. However,the one I have never came into circulation because it was an unusual coin struck in silver,and not copper nickel. The strike too was a special strike.”

The Shivaji Hoan too is a rare collection. According to texts,only a few hundreds were struck and showered over his head,and less than 10 Hoans are rumored to be in existence today,he added. Plus,a very rare Portuguese India specimen bank note of 1924 of Rs 50 valued at Rs 4 lakh that was never brought into circulation,a 1835 gold 1 tola mohur of King William estimated at Rs 1 Lakh and some silver coins of Mumbai,struck during the reign of the East India Company would also be auctioned at the exhibition.

Todywalla said,“While the numismatic market in India is still at a nascent stage,more and more people today are getting interested in the novelty of collecting Indian coins and bank notes.”