The figure of Goddess Britannia is familiar to everybody, a female personification of the island of Great Britain. The martial Britannia was used as an emblem of British imperial power and unity. Goddess Britannia also featured on the banknotes issued by the Bank of England and on the reverse of the penny.
Continue reading Goddess Britannia: Coins, Stamps and Banknotes
India has a magnificent history. All of it is beautifully reflected on the kind of architecture and monuments that the country is adorned with. Some of it is as old as thousand long years. Monuments on Indian banknotes will give you an overview about the country’s illustrious past. Let’s take a tour then.
They say that play of words can move a million hearts. Poets and writers have given the world a new pair of eyes through their works. Who could have thought of inscribing meaningful couplets on coins? It’s fascinating indeed to find out more about Indian coins with couplets that were mostly minted during the regime of the Mughal Emperors. Before the Mughals, the Guptas had also minted coins with metrical legends on them.
Imagine India without railways; unimaginable right? From childhood days onwards, we are accustomed to playing the “chug-chug-gaadi” game with friends and are always waiting for a chance to travel on express trains to our native places during vacations! Trains on Indian stamps will give you a colourful overview of the rich tradition of Indian Railways.
Continue reading Trains on Indian Stamps – An Illustrious Journey Continues
Times are such that with just a click of a button, the whole world can be yours! It can’t really get better. Technology and the power of the webworld have made living as easy as pie. Its effects can also be seen in the world of currency. Seems like, digital currency is the way ahead.
The general imagery that comes to our mind when we think of stamps is a rectangular piece of paper with some interesting imagery, the name of the country and its value. It’s time to break the myth that stamps come only in square or rectangular shapes. Many countries all over the world including India have issued some really uniquely and odd shaped stamps. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Sometimes we tend to forget that humans are not just the only inhabitants of the earth. And that has led to the destruction of forests which in turn has affected wildlife. This rather heartless act of human beings has also resulted in the extinction of some beautiful species. I personally feel that in this world of money and economic advancement, one should never forget how beautiful nature is and should try to live in sync with it. Let’s look at some countries who follow the same belief and have gone ahead to print some fabulous illustrations of wildlife on banknotes.
Continue reading Wildlife on Banknotes from Around the World
Coins are a form of legal tender first used c. 6th century BCE in India. The need arose for a stable mode of payment and coins have risen gloriously to the occasion. Previous methods of payment have been replaced over time. But what has enabled coins to be used for payment for over two millennia? The stability in the value of precious metals can only go so far. But when combined with the authentication done by governing authorities, coins become a stable and reliable form of money.
Though usually coins are circular in shape with emblems and depictions of emperors or important personalities, some countries of the world have gone out of their way to issue some really interesting ones. Let’s explore some of the most unusual coins of the world.
