Mangaluru: Numismatist to make his coin collection available for further study or other meaningful work

A captivating presentation on the coinage of the Western Ganga dynasty marked the second day of the World Heritage Week organised by the Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and Art Kanara Trust here on Thursday.

The talk and coin collection showcase, titled “Marked by History: The Western Ganga Dynasty Coins,” was delivered by noted numismatist M. Prashanth Shet of S.L. Shet Jewellers and Diamond House at the Kodial Guthu Centre for Art and Culture.

The Western Ganga dynasty ruled for nearly 650 years, from around 350 AD to 999 AD, governing large parts of southern Karnataka and regions of present-day Andhra Pradesh, with their capitals at Kolar in the early period and later at Talakad.

In his lecture, Mr. Shet shared his early fascination with coins. “I began coin collecting at the age of five. I was drawn to coins featuring symbols of gods, animals, birds and royal motifs. Elephants particularly fascinated me, especially when they appeared on coins,” he said.

Numismatist M. Prashanth Shet explaining the exhibits at Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture in Mangaluru on Thursday.
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What began with a single Western Ganga coin, he noted, has now grown into the largest known collection of Western Ganga coinage in the world. “Except for 10 varieties, I have every known coin minted under the Western Gangas,” he added.

Through an engaging narration, Mr. Shet elaborated on the evolution of figures and symbols found on Western Ganga coinage over the centuries, supported by a display of select pieces from his personal collection. Emphasising the value of heritage-oriented hobbies, he remarked, “This is my dedication to the future generation. I will make it available for further study, research, or any other meaningful work. Everyone should have a hobby that contributes to society”.

The presentation concluded with an interactive discussion on identifying authentic ancient coins, nurturing young collectors, and the auction landscape in India. INTACH Life Member Deekshith R. Pai gave the introductory address.