Antiques, stamps and coins take visitors on a journey through history

Antique exhibition at Hawa Mahal showcases rare coins, stamps, and historical artifacts on World Heritage Day.

The iconic Hawa Mahal building provided the perfect setting for the antique works, coins and stamps exhibition, organised by Mayank Kumari Deo, former convener of INTACH-Visakhapatnam, in association with the Numismatic and Philatelic Society of Visakhapatnam, on the occasion of World Heritage Day, here, on Friday.

Heritage and history enthusiasts spent quality time going through the exhibits, keenly reading the exhibit description, as it was a holiday on account of Good Friday. The philatelists, numismatists and hobby collectors patiently explained to the visitors about the importance and antiquity of their collections.

A 150-year-old brass betel leaf box, designed in the shape of a peacock, takes history buffs to the age of the ‘paan’ box culture in Uttar Pradesh. The paan box and other antique works on display reflect the ingenuity of our ancestors.

“Brass paan boxes were said to be popular in India and Burma. Paan was very popular in Uttar Pradesh, more so in Banaras. These boxes used to be given as the wedding ‘sare’ (the articles of daily use given to the bride as she moves to her in-laws’ place). The betel leaves can be stored in the body of the peacock while the betel nuts, mint and other ingredients can be kept in the compartment provided below the plume of the peacock,” says Gouri Siva Suresh of Vizag.

K.S.V.N. Kumar of Guntur district, who has now settled in Kasimkota, near Anakapalli, displayed his collection of antique brassware. A king and queen seated on separate swings, a silver betel leaf box, and an antique cigarette lighter, which is still functioning, are among his collections.

Coins of various dynasties like Satavahanas, Kushan, Chera and Cholas form part of the collections of K. Kameswara Rao, founder secretary to the Numismatic and Philatelic Society of Visakhapatnam. His collection includes a 2,300-year-old silver coin, weighing 180 mg, which is said to be one of the smallest coins in the world.

V.C.H.V. Rama Gupta’s collection of coins includes a 1 kg silver coin on Mahatma Gandhi, issued by Malta in 2004.