Selling money

A rare Rs 50 note dating from the 1820s fetched a whopping five-and-a-half lakh rupees at an auction organized in New Delhi by Farokh Tody­walla, a numismatic enthusiast for the past 38 years, reported The Times of India of December 11, 2006. Tody­walla confesses, "I have devoted my life to numismatics. It is my first love. Initially it was only a hobby, but now it is my livelihood as well. It is a good way to earn money.”

Items that went under the hammer at the Delhi event included rare coins from 180 countries, banknotes, badges and medals. Coins from the Gupta and Mughal periods, East India Company and princely states were also auctioned to buyers from all over the country. Among the items that fetched unusually high bids were banknotes from the early 19th century issued by Bank of Hindostan and Bank of Bengal. It was from the latter that the Rs 50 note which brought in Rs 5.5 lakhs was issued.