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Avoiding Fakes & Common Scams

Posted by Amit Bhandari on

Avoiding Fakes & Common Scams

“The more you pay for it, the less inclined you are to doubt its authenticity”The quote from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy accurately captures the sentiment of a collector. In a recent high-profile case of art fraud, an unsuspecting buyer in Mumbai was sold nearly a dozen fake paintings. Fakes are a problem across all categories of collectibles, and numismatics is not an exception. As a long-time collector of old coins and banknotes, I have dealt with my fair share. Occasionally, other collectors and sometimes investors also seek my advice on new acquisitions.If you are new to something, don’t go for...

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Tracking Time with Coins

Posted by Amit Bhandari on

Tracking Time with Coins

As we start a new year, money – making/saving/investing more of it is a resolution for many of us. However, as a collector, I also view money or coins as a marker of history. You can closely track the history of a country or a region based on its coinage. For instance, 1947 saw one big change for India – also reflected in Indian coinage (see the above image). Going back into the past, we can see similar changes when one dynasty/empire was replaced by another. For instance, the rise, dominance and decline of Guptas, Mughals, Marathas and the British...

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Argentina's New President - Madman or Antidote?

Posted by Amit Bhandari on

Argentina's New President - Madman or Antidote?

Argentina’s President-elect Javier Milei has been described by Leftist media in colorful terms ‘madman’, ‘far-right’, 'Argentina's Trump', and the like. I don’t have a view on his politics, but I can understand why Argentinians voted for an outsider who wants to shut down the Central Bank and use the US dollar as currency. Argentina currently faces a crisis – inflation of over 100% and a fraudulent exchange rate – sure signs of failure of economic policies.However, these problems are not new. As a collector of old banknotes, I have seen this movie play repeatedly in Argentina (and the rest of...

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Are old banknotes a secure investment?

Posted by Amit Bhandari on

Are old banknotes a secure investment?

Are old banknotes a secure investment? This is a question I increasingly hear from many of my friends, especially those in the investment community. I have been a collector of antique coins and old banknotes for over 25-years now and my general advice to collectors is to not treat these as an investment. However, it is also true that many of us collectors have spent substantial amounts on our hobby over the years – Can these be liquidated if and when needed/ Would I get the right price for my collection if I were to sell? While collectors and investors...

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Investing in Old Banknotes

Posted by Amit Bhandari on

Investing in Old Banknotes

Are old banknotes a good investment? As a banknote collector, I often field queries from friends considering collectible notes as an investment. I personally know a number of collectors who invest some of their surplus in old banknotes, expecting to cash in at a later date. Many of my dealer friends also report that older notes are becoming an investment due to their rarity, and the growing number of collectors. While I advise people against buying antiquities purely as an investment, it is true that these items tend to hold on to their value, and also appreciate in value over...

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