Teenage coin master displays rare collection; to set up coin museum in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Nov 6:

Internationally acclaimed Coin Master Debi Prasad Mangaraj , who is all to set up a first ever private coin museum in Odisha, held a coin exhibition at the second Floor Conference Hall of the State Secretariat here today.

His father PK Mangaraj was present during the exhibition.

Chief Secretary GC Pati said he was impressed at the rare coins exhibited at the exhibition and thanked Mangaraj for his decision to set up a coin museum in the state.

Seventeen-year old Debi Prasad has a staggering collection of more than 40, 000 antique coins, besides currencies, from 130 countries and hopes to enter the Guinness Book of World Records. His collection includes some rare coins of 1857 vintage.

“My proposed museum will benefit school students, tourists as well as research scholars having fascination in numismatics. The museum will educate school children about history and rare coins of 12th and 13th century BC,” Debi Prasad said on the occasion.

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, former President APJ Abdul Kalam, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, former Odisha Governors MC Bhandare and Rameswar Thakur and former Union minister Murli Manhor Joshi are among the dignitaries who have seen and marvelled at his collection.

His collection includes coins belonging to Australia, U.K, France, Japan and the U.S to name a few. The major attractions of his collection include coins of the East India Company Dated between 1800 A.D to 1810 A.D, pennies belonging to the late 18th and early 19th centuries and Peso of the mid-nineteenth century.

It also includes pressed coins of both stone and gold and earthen coins with imprints of Lords and animals—stated to over 800 years old.

“My museum would not be used for my personal gain. It would help people, who have a keen interest in numerology,” Debi Prasad said.