2018-12-27 Thu

A two-day exhibition called "Multifaced Coinages of Maharashtra" was held on 23rd and 24th December at Sathaye College, Ville Parle, Mumbai. The event was organised to celebrate the 4th National Numismatic Day and birth anniversary of Father of Indian Numismatics, P.L. Gupta.

Some ancient coins from Maharashtra region displayed at the exhibition were issued way back in 2600 BCE. The pre-Mauryan period coins belonged to ancient Janapadas such as Vidarbha, Kuntala and Andhra. Imperial Mauryan period coins such as silver Karshapanas, smaller denominations such as Mashaka and Kakani were displayed in the next section.

Many pre-Satavahana period coins from different parts of present-day Maharashtra, coins of Imperial Satavahanas and Shaka-Kshatrapas of Gujarat-Malwa in western Maharashtra were showcased at the event. Coins issued by Islamic rulers of Khalji dynasty and the Mughal Empire were put up in another section. Coins minted by Marathas, East India Company, Portuguese and the Maratha princely states also gathered a lot of attention.

Commemorative coins issued after independence, honouring famous leaders and thinkers from Maharashtra region like Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Balgangadhar Tilak etc. were also on display.

The Centre for History, Archaeology, Epigraphy and Numismatics (CHAEN) had organised its yearly conference called ‘Recent Researches in History, Archaeology, Epigraphy and Numismatics’ where students presented research papers. Experts in the field from different universities examined the papers. A farewell speech was given at the end of the event and prizes were distributed to the students who presented their research papers.

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