Inside a young numismatist’s collection

My journey into the world of numismatics began when I was eight years old. Armed with my salami and accompanied by my parents, I began exploring the small, dusty antique shops tucked away in different parts of Dhaka. In those early days, I didn't know much about periods or materials; I simply loved the weight and texture of ancient punch-marked and Roman coins in my hands.

The turning point came on my ninth birthday when my father gifted me my first gold coin: a tiny “Fanam” from the era of Tipu Sultan. Researching the "Tiger of Mysore" opened a new world to me. I learned how he revolutionised minting, naming his coins after Islamic figures based on the metals they were struck from.

Soon after, my grandfather gave me a unique, square-shaped five-paisa coin from the early days of independent Bangladesh. Its unusual geometry sparked a specific passion: collecting the diverse shapes, sizes, and materials unique to the Bengal region. My collection began to grow, moving from common alloys to rare gold, silver, and copper.

One of my most prized pieces was a gift from my mother—a gold medallion of the Bengal Presidency. Through my research, I discovered it was struck in the 18th century under Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. To me, this coin is more than just gold; it symbolises the monumental transition of power from the Mughal Empire to British colonial rule.

Today, my collection is a physical timeline of our wonderful region. I have catalogued pieces from the Gupta and Pala dynasties, the Bengal Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, British India, and the East Pakistan period, leading up to modern-day Bangladesh. These coins are not just currency; they are "primary sources"—tiny metal archives that tell the story of power, art, and trade.

I now spend my time following global auction houses and online forums to exchange knowledge with collectors worldwide. Each time I add a rare coin to my album, I feel like I am preserving a small piece of our history. For me, the rarer the coin, the clearer the window into our past. Every rare coin added to my album is a victory for history, ensuring that the rich, metallic legacy of the Bengal region is preserved for generations to come.

The author is a 10-year-old numismatist and history enthusiast based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.