Blogs

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...

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...

The recent devaluation of the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) is a stark reminder of the country's economic struggles. In just one week, the PKR fell 18% against the US dollar, dropping from 225 to 270. Over the past year, the PKR has experienced 36% depreciation against the US dollar. With this significant drop, it's difficult to deny that the country's economy is in crisis. Turkey and Sri Lanka have also faced similar struggles, as their currencies depreciated by 28% and 44% respectively against the US dollar over the past year. Such currency devaluations are often accompanied by high inflation, leading to...

Though silver is a precious metal, it is not as expensive as you think – 10 grams of silver is worth just around Rs 700 at present prices. Go back a few decades, and silver coins were common in virtually all modern societies. Silver coins – Indian rupees, US dollars, British crowns and other were minted in hundreds of millions. Many of these coins are still fairly common and are available to a new collector at a reasonable price. If you are a new collector, these coins are a good way to start collecting silver coins without breaking the bank....

Investors trying to safeguard their assets should avoid new and risky bets such as cryptocurrencies. Good old fashioned bullion is a far better bet. Amit Bhandari Crypto enthusiasts have long promoted cryptocoins as a currency which is not controlled by a central government, and is therefore a better store of value compared to fiat currencies. Cryptos were also supposed to be more secure from fraud and tampering compared to traditional currencies. During 2022, both these assumptions were tested as BTC fell by almost 60% and the crypto exchange FTX carried out an old fashioned fraud on its investors. 2022 proved...