This two-session masterclass gives a brief introduction into the journey of the Indian currency from the Second Urbanisation circa 6th century BCE till the early coinage of the Republic of India beginning in 1950. The first session will introduce participants to the vibrant world of Indian Numismatics from 6th BCE term Rupya to the various stages of its issue in different forms over the next 2600 years in the eras of the Mauryans, Indo-Greeks, Shakas, Pahalavas, Satavahanas, Guptas, Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas and various other Indian powers. The second session will cover the rise of the Sultanates and the Mughals and ends with the 19th century domination of local powers and the East India Company and its evolution into British India with the final epoch of the Republic of India. The masterclass is an attempt to give an overview of various forms of Indian coins in different periods of Indian History. 

Dates: Feb 13 & Feb 20

Time: Sundays at 11 am

Price: Rs 599 for both sessions

About the presenter

The course will be conducted by Dr. Mahesh A. Kalra, M. A.(Numismatics & Archaeology), Ph. D., a numismatic researcher and lecturer who has been teaching the subject of Indian Numismatics for over a decade. He has held workshops on the topic across the country under the banner of his organization, The Centre for Numismatic Information and Studies (CENNUMIS) in collaboration with various institutions and museums since 2014. His workshops are interspersed with showcasing of actual coin specimens as well as anecdotes on various coins. The current workshop is yet another outreach to heritage enthusiasts across the country towards creating interest in this engaging subject.