Deities on Kushan Coins - Part I

Deities are worshipped in various forms from time immemorial.  Beliefs and reverence for supernatural powers have driven humans to worship various forms. They may be natural elements personified, saints and divine personalities considered next to god or the God Himself.  These deities are found depicted on Indus Valley Seals, on walls of ancient ruins and at places of worship.  After the advent of coins, deities were depicted on coins of Greece, Rome and on Janapada coins of India. Before we explore the numerous deities on Kushan coins let us first try to understand the nature of religion, the origin of the gods, and their respective roles and significance in human life.

Continue reading Deities on Kushan Coins – Part I

The Mintage World Team comprises of experts, researchers and writers from the field of Philately, Notaphily and Numismatics who try to shed light on some of the most interesting aspects of coins, banknotes and stamps from not just India but across the globe as well.

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Evolving From Barter To Coins In India

These little pieces of metal struck with different designs each tell a story. They have evolved of a period of many centuries. Coins in India were first struck c. 6th century BCE. They were also one of the first coins to ever be struck worldwide. But what happened before that? Why was the need for coins felt? What did people use before the advent of coins?

Continue reading Evolving From Barter To Coins In India

The Mintage World Team comprises of experts, researchers and writers from the field of Philately, Notaphily and Numismatics who try to shed light on some of the most interesting aspects of coins, banknotes and stamps from not just India but across the globe as well.

History of currency notes of India went through several transformations which can be mapped to important events and administrative policies during the era when they were issued. Though notes issued by Bengal, Mumbai & Madras Presidencies and East India Company were mostly in circulation before independence, there were some exceptions in certain parts of the country which were under the rule of French, Portuguese and some independent dynasties. Let’s explore the types of Indian notes that were released by these administrative authorities apart from the British.

Continue reading Pre-Republic Colonial and Princely State Issues

The Mintage World Team comprises of experts, researchers and writers from the field of Philately, Notaphily and Numismatics who try to shed light on some of the most interesting aspects of coins, banknotes and stamps from not just India but across the globe as well.

Getting to Know Satavahana Coins – Symbols and Motifs

Introduction to Satavahana Coins

The period 2nd Century BC – 2nd Century AD is considered to be one of the significant periods of Ancient India. The period is marked by the downfall of the Mauryan Empire as well as emergence of numerous dynasties, tribal republics and city-states. The Satavahana were one of such dynasties that emerged in South India who built a long lasting empire. The Satavahanas who ruled from middle of the 1st century BC to 3rd century AD was not only the earliest but also the longest ruling Dynasty of Ancient India. The Satavahanas exerted same stability over Deccan and beyond as the Mauryans, which further, led to economic and social development. The study of their history, hence, has an important scope among the Ancient Indian historical studies.

Continue reading Getting to Know Satavahana Coins – Symbols and Motifs

The Mintage World Team comprises of experts, researchers and writers from the field of Philately, Notaphily and Numismatics who try to shed light on some of the most interesting aspects of coins, banknotes and stamps from not just India but across the globe as well.

The Origins of Indian Paper Money

We use paper money or notes on a daily basis and we have an idea of how to identify genuine ones from those that are fake. We may not be adept at it, but we have an inkling, nonetheless. But what do we know of its history? Do we know when, why, and how Indian paper money came into existence? Notes did not start out the way we know it today. It was much, much different. It began as a bank note, a promissory note given by a bank in lieu of precious metal coins which were payable on demand. Bank notes were a great way to carry money without being weighed down by the weight of coins.

Continue reading The Origins of Indian Paper Money

The Mintage World Team comprises of experts, researchers and writers from the field of Philately, Notaphily and Numismatics who try to shed light on some of the most interesting aspects of coins, banknotes and stamps from not just India but across the globe as well.

The usual imagery that comes to our mind when we think of coins of the world is the regular circular or square ones, made of some metal with inscriptions of some esteemed personality/ emperor or an emblem that defines a nation’s/empire’s identity. But some creative think-tanks thought otherwise and minted some of the most unusual coins of the world that you might have never imagined. Let’s find out.

Continue reading The Most Unusual Ancient Coins of the World

The Mintage World Team comprises of experts, researchers and writers from the field of Philately, Notaphily and Numismatics who try to shed light on some of the most interesting aspects of coins, banknotes and stamps from not just India but across the globe as well.

Have you ever wondered the history of american money, how the green bills, the US dollars, came into being? How and where it all did start, was it always as strong as it is today, who started it, where did the word “dollar” originate from?

The United States currency has a fascinating history and it has grown and evolved along with the growth of the nation.

Continue reading History of American Money

The Mintage World Team comprises of experts, researchers and writers from the field of Philately, Notaphily and Numismatics who try to shed light on some of the most interesting aspects of coins, banknotes and stamps from not just India but across the globe as well.

It was like, after looking at the prosperity of Kerala, God decided to settle down here and make this his own country. History of the southern part of Indian subcontinent dates back to the prehistoric period in 5,000 BC, which is why the coinage from this idyllic part of the country saw a lot of interesting transitions under different independent dynasties that ruled the region. When you’re exploring the coins of India, you can’t miss out on these beautiful coins.

Continue reading Coins of India – History of Kerala and its Coinage

The Mintage World Team comprises of experts, researchers and writers from the field of Philately, Notaphily and Numismatics who try to shed light on some of the most interesting aspects of coins, banknotes and stamps from not just India but across the globe as well.

The only aspect that separates philately from coin collection: Philately promotes numismatics but vice versa has not happened so far, at least to my knowledge.

Many nations across the globe have promoted numismatics and para-numismatics in many ways on stamps.

Continue reading Coins of India on Indian Postage Stamps

The Mintage World Team comprises of experts, researchers and writers from the field of Philately, Notaphily and Numismatics who try to shed light on some of the most interesting aspects of coins, banknotes and stamps from not just India but across the globe as well.