Mr Satyabuddu said, “I started collecting coins since I was 18 at the insistence of my father, which has become a growing hobby”
D. Satyabuddu, a numismatist, proudly displays his treasured collection of coins and currency notes. (Photo: DC)
Visakhapatnam: A retired electrical sub-station supervisor from Port Trust D. Satyabuddu from One Town in Visakhapatnam looks like any other ordinary man, fighting for the parking space at multiplexes for his old bicycle. But once he opens his kitty of rare coins and proudly explains the religious, social, political and cultural situations of a particular civilisation, he looks no lesser than a renowned historian.
His treasured collection, with some 10,000 numismatic objects from 200 countries, contains coins from all the major Indian dynasties, including Satavahana, Gupta, Kushan, Kanishka, Ikshavaku, Mughal, Maurya and Chola. The old coin in his collection dating back to the fifth Century BC, he also owns currency notes from all the countries, including plastic currency.
A lifetime member of Numismatic Society of India, Banaras Hindu University, Mr Satyabuddu has a penchant for antique coins and attends exhibitions throughout the country showcasing his precious collection. He is also a four-time Limca Book of Records holder for his exclusive collection of coins.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Mr Satyabuddu said, “I started collecting coins since I was 18 at the insistence of my father, which has become a growing hobby.” He remembered how Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and ex-Governor of the RBI Rangarajan praised his works.
Speaking about one of his prized possessions, a coin which is embossed with a picture of a man holding a spear in right hand and sword in left hand, Mr Satyabuddu explained that he is Veer Durgadas, who saved the Marwar dynasty from the clinch of Aurangzeb. Another coin, which boasts the picture of JL Baird, the inventor of television, contains a screen resembling a TV in the middle of it.He has coins embossed with pictures of mythical creatures, historic Arabian thieves and all popular figures from the history, including Alexander, Cleo-patra, Armstrong, Lenin, Yuri Gagarin, Valentina Tereshkova, Eisenhower.
When asked what inspired him to take up this hobby, he said, “Coins can be historical sources of a particular civilisation which we can pass on to the next generation.”
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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