Coins

Indian coinage spans more than two thousand years — from the earliest silver punch-marked karshapanas of the Mahajanapadas to the milled copper-nickel of the modern Republic. At the counter we focus on the subcontinent's own story: Mughal gold, the bewildering variety of Princely State issues, British India's machine-struck currency, and the commemoratives and errors of independent India.

History

What to look for

Strike quality is the first test: a well-centred coin with full legend and a crisp, unflattened reverse tells you the die was fresh and the blank was correctly annealed. For Mughal pieces, check the mint name and regnal year — certain mint-year combinations are genuinely rare, while others are common at any grade. Princely State coins reward research: the same type struck at Hyderabad exists in silver, copper and billon, and catalogue values diverge sharply. For British India look at the die axis (coins are die-axis invariant up to a point; rotated dies are collectible). On Republic India, proof sets and error coins — mis-strikes, double-struck obverses, off-metal pieces — are the growth area. Toning and patina on silver should be even; a coin that has been chemically cleaned loses value and never fully recovers.

Common questions

How do I know if a coin is genuine?

Weight and diameter against the published standard is the first check. For Mughal and Princely State silver, the grain of the metal under a loupe tells you a great deal — genuine pieces have a granular, slightly porous surface from the old minting process; modern fakes are usually too smooth. We examine every piece we acquire and are happy to discuss our assessment in person.

What grade do you sell at?

We describe coins honestly by condition — Fine to Extremely Fine for most circulated material, with Uncirculated pieces noted explicitly. We do not over-grade. If you are comparing with another description, bring the coin and we can look together.

Can you value a coin I already own?

Yes. Bring it to the counter during trading hours and we will give you an honest opinion at no charge. For insurance or probate valuations we charge a modest written fee.

Do you buy as well as sell?

Yes — outright purchase or part-exchange. Use the Sell Your Collection page to start the conversation, or come directly to the counter with the pieces.