When Pune-based Shrinivas Bhats mother gifted him a replica of the first coin issued by independent India in 1947, he was just eight years of age. But it catalysed an enduring passion for coins collection which has now grown into a valuable treasure chest of 5,000 distinct and separate coins from around the world, winning him several entries in the Limca Book of Records. This unique collection includes 1,160 coins depicting the wildlife of 172 countries, bi-metal coins minted by 157 national govern-ments and general coins from 342 countries. The assorted collection also comprises coins from ancient India, Mughal India, the Maratha period, princely states, and British India. An alumnus of the Basel Mission School, Dharwad with a postgrad in commerce from Karnataka University, Bhat began his professional career in Advani Oerlikon, Pune but thereafter served with the city-based Morris Electronics for 18 years before going solo to manufacture a range of chemicals including manganese sulphate. I closed shop in 2007 after 40 years in industry and business to attend full-time to my coins, which requires a lot of time and dedication. I constantly network with friends, relatives, dealers and others to source coins and grow my collection which needs to be properly classified and maintained, says Bhat.
The fascination for numismatics has been inherited by his son Punit, a business management graduate of Pune University who has also won an entry in the Limca Book of Records for his unusual collection of 501 sealed miniature liquor bottles, 200 metal Ganesh idols, and over 500 lapel pins of sports organisations, airlines and nation states.
Punit (40) admits to being inspired by Bhat Sr. in the seriousness with which he tends to his own eclectic collection. My first mini-ature was a Johnnie Walker Black Label gifted by a family friend over 20 years ago, says Punit whose varied collection also includes the lapel pins of all Olympic games held from 1896 to 2008 as also the official lapel pin of 2012 Olympics scheduled to be held in London and all lapel pins of the 32 countries that participated in the FIFA World Cup 2006.
Bhat wants to eventually pass on his congeries to his son, assured that they will be cherished. I could get lakhs if I were to sell my collection, but obviously thats not my intention. One of my greatest wishes is to inspire young children to take up this or any other hobby. It will help to wean them away from computers, television and cell phones. Collections of all choices are stimulating, provide an occupation and can add so much to your knowledge of the world, says Bhat.
Happy hunting!
Huned Contractor (Pune)