Born in Andhra Pradesh and settled in Bengaluru with an agarbathi business, P Subramanyam Setty could not have imagined that he would hit headlines for his rare collection of coins and notes.
“I wanted to join the family business of Agarbathi manufacturing,” Setty says. “After I passed out of SSLC in 1964, the business was set up in Bengaluru. Today my hobby has helped me become the Vice-President of the Karnataka Numismatics Society. I am proud of my collection that has brought me many awards,” says the 76-year-old who has taken part in nearly 400 exhibitions all over the country in the last 15 years.
“I will bring four new sets in the Fncy Number collection, and showcase 375 varieties in Star Notes in the 2019 National Numismatics Exhibition in February.”
Setty got interested in collecting coins through his son. “Nearly 40 years ago, when I saw my son patiently filling his stamp album, I started helping him. We then observed other hobbyists who collected coins and notes. It is difficult to say when this delightful pass-time turned into a hobby and obsession.”
Setty talks of his recent participation at numismatics exhibitions at Vizag, Vijayawada and Chennai. Albums with rare notes and coins are neatly arranged. “Please see the Fancy Number series, they are fascinating,” says the septuagenarian. The series of 19 notes of denominations from ₹ 1,000 to ₹10 bear numbers 111111 to 999999 and from 100000 to 1000000.
Setty has 375 different varieties of Star Notes.
“They are currency notes issued by RBI as replacement for defectively printed bank notes. They bear a star in the number panel. I have Star Notes issued by former RBI Governors, Raghuram Rajan, Urjit Patel, Dr YV Reddy and D Subba Rao.”
Setty cherishes his collection of the British India Series-1. The first series of RBI notes issued in 1938 features the portrait of King George VI.
The post-Independence Republic India Series – II has a Rs.1000 note issued in 1954 with the Brihadeeshwara Temple of Tanjore on the reverse. “Look at the size, it is huge — 20 x 13 cm,” says Setty. Amongst the Signature Sets where each note bears a different signature, Setty has 59 out of the 62 issued.
Setty also has 100 varieties of Commemorative Coins, issued by the government since 1964, referred to as the uncirculated proof-sets. Most of these coins are in memory of landmark events or renowned personalities and composed of quaternary alloy with 50 % silver, copper, nickel and zinc. Thousand years of the Brihadeeshwara Temple was, however, commemorated with a 44 mm ₹ 1000 coin with 80 % silver.
Sometimes sourcing the coins takes time. It took Setty six months to a year to get hold of the platinum jubilee dedicatory coins from RBI. Released in 2010 the ₹ 75 coin had the RBI monogram of the tiger. “I got the Motilal Nehru and Sant Tukaram coins after a long wait, now I have MS Subbulakshmi and Maharana Pratap in the collection.”
Setty has fascinating stories to tell about his collection. “Did you know that the Finance Secretary signs ₹1 notes, and the rest are signed by the Governor? The last ₹1 was printed in 2015, while the last ₹2 was in 1994, and ₹5 in 2001.”
Apart from notes and coins Setty also has 996 post cards with advertisements at the back. He has an album for printed railway tickets with advertisements as well.
This column profiles those who choose to veer off the beaten track
