Numismatics Collections

The world's largest collector of Indian Paper Money, Rezwan Razack, has been awarded the 'Book of the Year' by the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) for his new book titled 'One Rupee – One Hundred Years 1917 – 2017.' The IBNS Book of the Year is an annual accolade presented to an exceptional publication dedicated to paper money. Books under consideration for the award are nominated by various members of the International Bank Note Society (IBNS). Rezwan Razack, the joint managing director of Bengaluru-based real estate company Prestige Group, has garnered this prestigious recognition for his significant contributions. Over the past 45 years, Mr. Razack has meticulously curated an extensive collection of Indian currency notes, concurrently chronicling the rich history of paper currency in the subcontinent. An enthusiastic collector of Indian banknotes and paper currency, Mr. Razack delves into lesser-known facts and intricacies, meticulously documented in his b...

The production of coins has come to a complete standstill at all four  India Government Mints —Kolkata, Mumbai, Noida, and Hyderabad. This unprecedented pause stems from a significant oversupply of coins in the system, compounded by a lack of adequate storage space across mint facilities and RBI vaults. The Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL), which oversees the operations of all four mints, issued an internal directive stating that the “production of circulation coins is being stopped until further notice.” While routine working hours will continue, the order explicitly mentions that no overtime will be permitted, indicating a slowdown in overall activity within the mints. According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) sources, such calibrations of coin production are carried out periodically to balance demand, supply, and storage capacity. Coin manufacturing is inherently dependent on the RBI’s assessment of the volume of coins already in circulation and...

The counterfeit ₹1000 commemorative coin featuring the Shri Jagannath Nabakelebara theme have begun appearing across various online shopping platforms, despite the fact that the official coin has not yet been commenced bookings from the India Government Mint, Mumbai.  This early flood of fakes is not only alarming but also highlights the growing vulnerability of unsuspecting collectors who rely on online marketplaces. Spotting these fake coins is relatively easy due to a glaring spelling error: the inscription on the counterfeit reads “Shri Jagganath Nabakelebra” instead of the correct “Shri Jagannath Nabakelebara.” Such inaccuracies are a common trait among forged commemorative pieces, making it essential for collectors to examine details closely before making any purchase. This is not the first time counterfeit commemorative coins have emerged even before official mint releases. Earlier reports highlighted similar instances where fraudulent coins circulated widely, misleading b...