Major Exhibition of Coins and Stamps Set for November

A two-day philatelic and numismatic exhibition in Mangaluru will open on November 22 at a prominent convention centre in the city, showcasing an extensive array of rare coins, stamps and postcards. The event is anchored around the private collection of M. Prashanth Shet, whose holdings span ancient Indian dynasties, colonial-era coinage and unusual thematic stamps from around the world.

The exhibition will feature 310 varieties of Western Ganga dynasty coins, 2,100 varieties of British India coins, more than 800 rare coins from over 40 countries, as well as over 2,000 historically significant stamps and 1,500 postcards. Entry has been announced as free for students, teachers and the general public, positioning the event as an accessible introduction to philately and numismatics for visitors of different age groups.

Venue, Schedule and Inaugural Details

The exhibition will be held at Dr T. M. A. Pai Convention Center in Mangaluru and will run over two days from November 22. The formal inauguration is scheduled for the opening day, with the ceremony to be led by the vice-chancellor of a local university, in the presence of the collector’s mother Padma R. Shet.

Alongside the coin and stamp displays, the programme has been structured to include a full day of exhibition viewing and a subsequent day combining exhibits with thematic talks. The second day, November 23, has been earmarked for a seminar to deepen visitors’ engagement with specific aspects of coin and stamp collecting and related research.

Seminar to Focus on Currency, Birds and Collection Skills

A seminar on November 23 will run parallel to the exhibition, featuring specialist presentations on numismatic and philatelic themes. One session will focus on rare currency notes and their historical evolution, offering visitors a guided overview of how paper money has developed over time.

Another session will highlight water birds and bird species as a recurring theme in philatelic material, drawing attention to how stamps have documented biodiversity and environmental motifs. A further presentation will cover practical approaches to enhancing and curating collections, aimed at both emerging and experienced collectors seeking to improve the quality, organisation and research value of their holdings.

Focus on Western Ganga and Kadamba Dynasty Coins

A key component of the exhibition will be the presentation of gold coins from the Western Ganga dynasty, accompanied by an overview of their historical significance, iconography and typology. The organiser’s collection, which began with a single gold coin acquired in 2008, has expanded over the years into what is described as one of the largest individual collections of Ganga dynasty coins.

The 310 varieties of Ganga coins in this collection substantially exceed the number of varieties available in several well-known institutional holdings. The exhibition will also display 65 coins from the Kadamba dynasty, covering both the Hanagal and Goa branches, forming what is identified as the largest private collection of Kadamba coins held by any individual.

Extensive British India Coinage Collection

The exhibition will dedicate significant space to British India coinage, reflecting the depth and breadth of the organiser’s 2,100 documented varieties. This collection includes approximately 650 varieties that are stated to be currently undocumented in numismatic journals, pointing to ongoing contributions to the cataloguing and study of colonial-era coin issues.

Research on die varieties of British India two-anna coins has already resulted in two published papers by the collector, and the coins on display will provide a tangible extension of that scholarly work. Visitors will be able to observe differences in design, mint marks, inscriptions and die characteristics that distinguish one variety from another, illustrating how minor variations can yield substantial research insights.

International Coins from Over 40 Countries

Beyond Indian dynastic and colonial coinage, the exhibition will showcase more than 800 rare coins drawn from over 40 countries. These include 17th-century coins from African regions, alongside coins from China, Japan and several South Asian countries.

The global range of the collection is designed to illustrate the diversity of monetary systems, metals and design styles across geographies and centuries. By bringing together coins from multiple continents, the exhibition aims to offer visitors a comparative view of how political authority, trade and cultural symbolism have been represented on currency over time.

Stamps, Postcards and Innovative Stamp Materials

On the philatelic side, more than 2,000 historically significant stamps will be on display, supplemented by 1,500 postcards. The collection covers a wide variety of themes, periods and issuing entities, with particular attention to materials and printing innovations that distinguish certain stamps from conventional paper issues.

Among the most distinctive items are stamps produced on alternative materials, including glass, shell, gold, ceramic, diamond and microchip substrates. These non-traditional materials demonstrate how stamp-issuing authorities have experimented with form and texture to create limited editions, commemoratives and technologically advanced issues.

First Indo-Portuguese Stamps and Historical Narratives

The exhibition will also display the first Indo-Portuguese stamps dating back to 1840, offering visitors a glimpse into some of the earliest postal issues linked to colonial-era postal systems in the region. These stamps, along with other early issues, form part of a broader narrative about communication networks, trade routes and administrative structures.

Historical stamps and postcards are positioned within the exhibition as visual records of major events, political transitions and social themes. Visitors will be able to trace how designs, portraits, emblems and inscriptions on stamps evolved alongside changes in governance and international relations.

Long-Term Collecting Journey and Recognitions

The organiser of the exhibition has been collecting since the age of five, building parallel collections in both coins and stamps over several decades. The philatelic collection, which began in childhood, has grown to include diverse and rare items across multiple themes and formats.

This body of work has been recognised with more than 12 medals in over 25 exhibitions at local, state, national and international levels since 2011. The exhibition in Mangaluru consolidates these achievements into a single public-facing event, drawing together numismatic and philatelic strands that have developed concurrently.

Educational Emphasis and Public Access

Free entry for students, teachers and the public is intended to position the event as an educational platform rather than a commercial showcase. By removing ticketing barriers, the organisers aim to attract school groups, college students, researchers and hobbyists who may be encountering specialised collections of this scale for the first time.

The combination of displays and seminars provides structured opportunities for visitors to both observe rare items and gain interpretive frameworks for understanding them. The presence of subject-matter experts delivering talks on specific themes is expected to enhance the educational value of the event, particularly for those considering serious engagement with philately or numismatics.

Next Steps and Event Progression

The exhibition will open to the public on November 22 with the inaugural ceremony at Dr T. M. A. Pai Convention Center, followed by a full day of viewing. On November 23, the displays will continue alongside the scheduled seminar sessions on currency notes, bird-themed philately, collection enhancement, Western Ganga gold coins and Falkland Islands-related material.

At the close of the second day, the coin, stamp and postcard exhibits will be withdrawn from public display and the temporary exhibition will formally conclude, marking the completion of the scheduled two-day programme.