Numismatist’s currency collection ‘note’worthy
BHUBANESWAR: Which is the largest currency note of all times? When did
India have Rs 2.50 currency note and how did it look? Did India ever
have currency note of one paisa denomination?
To get answers for all these queries, one should visit Aravind Agrawal's house, which has turned into a mini museum, where currency notes of about 140 countries are on display. Currency notes of different hues attract him as iron attracts magnet.
Agrawal (42), the passionate numismatist, is a native of Patnagarh in Balangir district. For the past three decades, he has been collecting coins and notes of different countries as part of his hobby.
It all started, when Agrawal began collecting stamps in his childhood. One day he received a European currency note which fascinated him. Thus began his quest for collecting more and more currency notes and become an accomplished numismatist. "My mother encouraged me the most to collect the currency notes. I always remained in the look out for the notes whenever I was visiting new places or meeting strangers. I have even travelled long distances to fetch some damaged notes of the medieval period," Agrawal said.
He has currency notes ranging from medieval period to the 21st century. He is proud of his collection which has the largest currency note - a Russian 100 Rubel, which is about 25.5 cm long and 12 cm wide, belonging to the reign of Tsar Nicholas-II in 1910. "Apart from the largest Rubel note, which attracts many visitors, the Rs 2.50 note, which was prevalent during the British rule and during the reign of king George-V between 1914-1918, also bring in the people to my place," said Agrawal. He said he had received the Rs 2.50 note from erstwhile king of Patna, Rajraj Singhdeo.
"The notes and currency are a rich source of knowledge, which inform us about our history and the history of other countries. I have some punch mark coins and some coins belonging to the period of Akbar and Alauddin Khilji. These, I think, are prized collections which can help many research scholars get insight into the medieval period," he explained. His collection boasts of currencies not only of 140 countries but of 24 princely states as well.
To get answers for all these queries, one should visit Aravind Agrawal's house, which has turned into a mini museum, where currency notes of about 140 countries are on display. Currency notes of different hues attract him as iron attracts magnet.
Agrawal (42), the passionate numismatist, is a native of Patnagarh in Balangir district. For the past three decades, he has been collecting coins and notes of different countries as part of his hobby.
It all started, when Agrawal began collecting stamps in his childhood. One day he received a European currency note which fascinated him. Thus began his quest for collecting more and more currency notes and become an accomplished numismatist. "My mother encouraged me the most to collect the currency notes. I always remained in the look out for the notes whenever I was visiting new places or meeting strangers. I have even travelled long distances to fetch some damaged notes of the medieval period," Agrawal said.
He has currency notes ranging from medieval period to the 21st century. He is proud of his collection which has the largest currency note - a Russian 100 Rubel, which is about 25.5 cm long and 12 cm wide, belonging to the reign of Tsar Nicholas-II in 1910. "Apart from the largest Rubel note, which attracts many visitors, the Rs 2.50 note, which was prevalent during the British rule and during the reign of king George-V between 1914-1918, also bring in the people to my place," said Agrawal. He said he had received the Rs 2.50 note from erstwhile king of Patna, Rajraj Singhdeo.
"The notes and currency are a rich source of knowledge, which inform us about our history and the history of other countries. I have some punch mark coins and some coins belonging to the period of Akbar and Alauddin Khilji. These, I think, are prized collections which can help many research scholars get insight into the medieval period," he explained. His collection boasts of currencies not only of 140 countries but of 24 princely states as well.
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