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Passport to the past
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The recent CoinStampex 2003 was a mirror to the past, with a veritable number of ancient stamps and coins on display.
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OLD STAMPS and coins tell a hundred tales. Passed down generations, they straddle the old and the new worlds.
A letter or an envelope from a philatelist friend or relative is always welcome, for you can be sure the stamp has been chosen with great care and lovingly pasted.
As for ancient coins and currency, you know you bought it, but keep wondering about who owned it first and wonder why they had to part with it.
For philatelists, visiting a well put together exhibition is a dream come true.
For, they not only get to see varieties of stamps, but also interact with people with similar interest. And, rub shoulders with well-known collectors.
At the recent All-India Coimbatore CoinStampex 2003, organised by the Coimbatore District Tirupur Numismatic and Philatelic Association (CDTNPA), you had to jostle for space to take a look at the exhibits.
People thronged the Gujarathi Samaj Bhavan, the venue, on all three days of the exhibition.
Students formed most of the crowd, with school buses emptying wards near the expo premises at regular intervals. To generate interest in the show, the organisers had distributed passes at schools, against which a gift pack of coins, stamps and a currency note were given at the exhibition venue.
What left many amazed were the reasonable rates quoted on the packs containing colourful stamps issued by foreign countries. The price of each stamp worked out to less than Rs. 2.50. Are they fakes? "No", says Anuj Saxena, an exhibitor from Dehra Dun.
"These are cancelled to order stamps, which are ideal for beginners. Small countries get agents to print them, not for postal use, but for trading purposes. They come in bright colours and designs and are very inexpensive."
As for ancient coins, they are mostly sourced from junkyards, after being disposed by people who don't know their value.
The exhibitors were all praise for Coimbatoreans, saying they responded very well and did not merely gaze around. "You have lots of informed buyers here," they echo.
Bright telephone cards, issued by foreign countries, were also in great demand, with people queuing up to buy them for Rs. Two apiece. Old documents and first day covers also formed part of the expo. C. K Abdul Azeem, a coin dealer from Mysore says most of their coins come from Hubli, Dharwad, Bidar and Shimoga.
On the first floor, collectors showcased their labour of love. So, you got to see rows and rows of coins and stamps pasted on to the walls along with a brief about their history.
One stall that caught everyone's attention was the one featuring gold currency from Belize. "These were issued in 1981, when the country attained independence."
Etched on the currency is the country's famed flora and fauna.
Another attraction was the 24 carat gold postal stamp issued by the government of Antigua and Barbuda.
Aparna, who collects stamps and coins, said that after seeing the show, she was planning to go in for thematic collection.
Kapilan Ganapathy, a chirpy lad from Tirupur, was bursting with enthusiasm after a visit to the exhibition. A regular collector and member of the CDTNPA, he has a thematic collection of national leaders and birds.
Is the hobby not very expensive? "Of course", says his father. As for the collectors, they say even a millionaire cannot hope to have a complete set. "The thirst for more is what drives us," they add.
SUBHA J RAO
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Metro Plus
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