Kolkata :

Time is money but some particular currency is timeless. On the eve of Independence Day, Kolkatans will get see some of the most ancient coins of Bengal at an exhibition by the Numismatic Society of Calcutta. On display will be 2nd Century BC coins from Chandraketugarh, along with those from Sasanka and Samudragupta era, among others.

“This is the first time we will hold an exhibition at any college in Kolkata. Elsewhere we had held shows at IITs, NITs,” said Samarjit Ghosal, the society’s secretary. The exhibition will be held at Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri College on Friday.

“The Chandraketugarh coin is identified by some specific symbols like the sun and boat. A telltale symbol is that of a conch on the reverse side,” said Anup Mitra, the society’s president.

Explaining how collectors get hold of such ancient coins, he said: “In old times, the practice of storing valuables underground was quite common. In case they are abandoned, they are discovered long after, mostly by accident. Those who find them take them to jewellers. In England, museums buy back such coins. But here there is no such system here. Across the country, small teams of traders keep a track on movement of coins at jewellery shops. Once they acquired, they are sold to museums or collectors.”

“Till recently, it was believed ‘kouri’ was the medium of exchange in early Bengal. But after discoveries of the last few decades, it is now proved that ‘kouri’ was a parallel currency till early 19th century,” said Shankar Bose, an authority on coins who has penned 10 numismatic books.

Bose will present a powerpoint presentation on ancient Bengali coins at the exhibition.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kolkata / by Shounak Ghosal, TNN / August 10th, 2015