Hello, I will on business in India and if I have if I have time I may look for coins shops and coins. Would anyone suggest cool coins (silver, maybe commemorative) that are worth looking at?
My understanding is proof or mint sets from India are very popular as hardly anybody over there bought, collected or saved them. Low mintage sets are a sure bet, if you can buy the older sets=older means pre-1968, I think, it may be earlier like pre-1960. Check the prices on ebay. Do not buy from anyone other than a reputable coin shop, also be sure and take a scale. The scale is just in case you run into a gold coin you like or even silver. good luck
Tons of cheap and rather crude fakes all over the place. I would avoid buying coins in touristy areas in any country. Maybe @spock1k can drop some knowledge about buying legit coins in India
I used to correspond with several Indian collectors back in the '80's and '90's. At that time there was virtually no infrastructure to support coin collecting. Even larger cities lacked coin shops! I did know one Indian dealer who used to come to US coin shows in the late-'80's who may still be active. I regret now that I didn't buy him out since he had tons of sets and special coins. People don't appreciate just how dramatically the Indian market has changed. A 1963 mint set that listed at $4 and couldn't be given away a few years ago now lists for $4500 and is highly sought. I'd assume there must be a few coin shops now. I think there is still a tremendous potential in some of the early coinage from the 1950's. You have to be careful here because some dates are in collections in the US but it's only some dates. Prices have risen a lot and growing pains might come into play. There are some coins "out in the wild" and it could take several more years to separate the wheat from the chaffe. In the meantime I really like circulating coinage that is really choice BU and better date aluminum.
I think almost all of the 26 and 28 mm Rupee coins are underpriced. Coins like the 1975 can't be found in any grade in this country and I doubt they are much more available in India. Any that might survive from the very high mintage will be worn. This coin could be scarce even in AU but I don't know. Collectors have simply dropped the ball with almost all modern coins.
India mint sets from the 1970s have also risen in popularity. If I were going to India, I'd like to know what Indian coins are hard to find here, where I live, and seek those out in India. No use in going after a coin or a set in India only to find out later that you could probably find better examples back home.
Recently sixbid.com listed an Indian auction house, Marudhar Arts, https://www.marudhararts.com/ . I do collect the various varieties of Victorian era Rupees. You can start with Marudhar. For my particular interests I find the U.K. houses as providing good prices. Good luck
if the op is going to pune he is going to pass mumbai. he can directly buy from the mint in mumbai. if he is looking for modern circulating comems i can help him out provided its a weekend i am rather tied up these days during the week but i am surprised that numismat remembered me i am not very active these days on the forum
Spock1k: I took a look at your blog. I would be interested in any insights you have of the Victorian Rupee coins. I enjoy the varieties and the "gothic" nature of the clothing!!!
