2018-08-01 Wed

Travancore Expo 2018 was organised by the Philatelic and Numismatic Association Thiruvananthapuram at Bhagyamala Auditorium, Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium from 6th to 8th July. 24 out of the 140 members of the association showcased several interesting coins at the exhibition that happens once in 2 years.

Some of the highlights at the exhibition were rare Ananthasayanam coins depicting an image of Lord Vishnu on one side while designs of a discus, conch, deer, mace, elephant, or peacock on the other. Greek coins from BC 200, coins issued after Tipu Sultan’s death by the British, Pazhassi Raja coins, Venad Thira coins that were issued once every three years, were also exhibited. Most of the Venad Thira coins depict the Malayalam year but one features the year date 1889 and was issued during the reign of Moolam Tirunal Rama Varma of Travancore.

Other interesting exhibits were gold coins of Chandragupta Maurya II, Vijayanagara and Travancore; coins of East India company; the smallest coins of the world; coins of Nawabs of Arcot, Khiljis, Delhi Sultans, the only woman ruler Razia Sultana, three-year-old Shams-ud-din Kayumars; Roman coins of Tiberius Caesar; coins of Portuguese India, French India, Dutch India, and East India Company, and British coins.

The exhibition also displayed WWII currency, coins issued in copper, tin, lead, zinc, iron, and even fibre due to lack of metal during the war; the only princely state Currency notes by Nizams of Hyderabad; Uni-faced currencies and coins, one-kg silver coins by Australia etc.