Heads or tails: The legends of coins

Private collections of coins and stamps on display at Nishtar Hall as part of a Directorate of Culture initiative.

PESHAWAR: Centuries-old coins were on display at Nishtar Hall on Thursday as part of a two-day exhibition organised by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Directorate of Culture. Currency notes and postcards from around the world were also showcased.

The exhibition was inaugurated by MPA Arif Yousuf and officials from the directorate were also present.

Private collectors had been invited to participate in the exhibit. Their collections lent historical depth to the showcase as some coins dated back several centuries.



A possible highlight of the exhibition was pieces which belonged to the reign of King Ashok. Other collections included rare Persian and Greek coins while there were pieces which had been minted under the Mughal Empire. The collections displayed also included coins and stamps handed down from the British Raj.

Mint me some history

Made with minting techniques spanning several eras and cultures, the coins displayed varied levels of dexterity, types of shapes, and more importantly, designs which identifies a particular moment in history.

The event attracted enthusiasts from around the city who rarely get the chance to examine such significant pieces. For collectors and coin buffs, the small round or oblong of metal is a piece of history which can be held in the palm of a hand – a piece which can speak volumes about a civilization or a culture.

“The king of hobbies and hobby of kings,” said Director Culture Mehmood Khan, to collector Khwaja Akhtar Ali, “The coins tell us about our history, civilization and culture.” Khan added, “They tell us about eras which did not formally record history.”

Khwaja Akhtar Ali, who has been an enthusiast since at least 1959, told The Express Tribune the collection requires hard work.

“I have four-thousand-year old Greek, five-hundred-year old Islamic and British-era coins,” shared Ali, adding his “King Ashok coins are the main source of attraction for viewers.”

On some of the old coins, the king is depicted seated on an elephant or riding a horse with a bow and arrow in his band or seated on the throne.



Prince Amanullah from Mardan has a large collection and was in attendance. Aman discussed his gold coins dating back to 1840 and 1780. “For a single coin, people have offered thousands of rupees but I would never sell it,” he claimed. According to Aman, this was the first time such an event was organised in K-P.

The displays of India and Pakistan’s postal stamps depicted pictures of freedom fighters, historical monuments and icons.

The collection included some of the first stamps ever printed in Pakistan, known as the Pioneer of Freedom series. Pakistan Post office also had a stall, with their special stamps showcased. These are printed in limited quantity.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 13^th, 2013.