Interest in coin collecting grows all the time<\/p>\n
Bambang Parlupi, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Many people, young and old, have found it increasingly
\nappealing to collect old coins and banknotes as a pastime.<\/p>\n
The search for such items produces a thrill of its own. A lot
\nmore collectors are now ready to pay high prices for antique
\ncash, especially rare pieces with limited circulation, the value
\nof which increases with age.<\/p>\n
The nominal value of old coins is indeed small, but they can
\nbe exorbitantly priced. The ancient coins of one collector kept
\nin a bank in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S., are an example.<\/p>\n
According to John Kraljevick Jr from American Numismatic
\nRarities, the collector auctioned 2,800 of his early Roman,
\nGreek, Latin American and Asian coins for an estimated reserve
\nprice of US$5 million (around Rp 52 billion). Likewise, rare
\ncoins issued in 1822 with reliefs of Emperor Pedro from Brazil
\nwere offered at $100,000 apiece.<\/p>\n
The hobby of collecting antique money used in ancient times
\nhas also added zest to the activities of Indonesia's younger
\ngeneration. Roy Chandra Yudha, 27, is among those expressing
\nenthusiasm for gathering the old means of payment.<\/p>\n
\"I'm attracted by their historical value and rarity as relics
\nof olden days,\" said the final-semester student of the PROSIA
\nCommunications College, Jakarta.<\/p>\n
He said that his hobby began in the 1980s when he was a
\nprimary school student, and has since continued. \"My collection
\nincludes over 160 coins and 111 banknotes,\" said Chandra, the art
\ndirector of a private company. Apart from those of Indonesian
\norigin, he also has many from several other countries including
\nthe Netherlands, America, Poland, France and Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"Among the oldest are coins of the VOC (Dutch East Indies
\nCompany) period in 1790, and some one-third-of-a-cent coins from
\n1836,\" continued Chandra, who also has several sheets of ORI
\n(Oeang Repoeblik Indonesia, or Republic of Indonesia) banknotes.
\nHis collection includes the 1964 classical series of banknotes
\nimprinted with the picture of Indonesia's first president,
\nSukarno.<\/p>\n
\"Uniquely, they curl up by themselves after being pressed,\" he
\nsaid, adding that these were the pieces he liked most.<\/p>\n
Flea markets<\/p>\n
The coin hunt is a thrilling experience for hobbyists.
\nAccording to Chandra, most of the old money is kept by
\nindividuals who do not much understand the meaning or value of
\nvintage coins. \"Usually, coin enthusiasts go to flea markets for
\nthe historic pieces, which are generally offered at reasonable
\nprices. If we're lucky we can get centuries-old coins,\" he
\npointed out. Depending on their condition and year of issue, such
\nrarities cost anything from Rp 5,000 to tens of thousands of
\nrupiah apiece.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, some kiosks selling used articles also offer old
\ncoins, like those in Taman Puring, South Jakarta; Jenderal Urip
\nSquare, Jatinegara, East Jakarta; and in Pasar Poncol antique
\nshops, Senen, Central Jakarta. Seasonal traders sometimes appear
\naround Pasar Minggu station or the Blok M terminal, South
\nJakarta, and at Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
According to some traders, the rare money is bought from
\nindividual citizens and scavengers. Many collectors also obtain
\nthem from suppliers, close friends and relatives. Chandra got one
\nof his oldest coins from a friend.<\/p>\n
\"One day he wanted to dump a piece, but I told him not to.
\nAfter cleaning it, I found it to date from the Dutch era,\" he
\nrecalled. His Sukarno banknotes, bought from friends at Rp 50,000
\nsome 15 years ago, \"are now worth millions of rupiah. I'll sell
\nthem if anyone is interested,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Numismatics<\/p>\n
Besides being a hobby, collecting antique coins is also a
\nlucrative business. No wonder many people gather metal and paper
\nmoney for their high value -- the older the items, the more
\nexpensive can become.<\/p>\n
Those who collect coins and medals are called numismatists,
\nwhile the study of such coins, banknotes and other means of
\nexchange in different periods is known as numismatics. Other
\nitems used as money like checks and share certificates also
\nbelong to this category.<\/p>\n
The hobby also has the aim of satisfying collectors' curiosity
\nabout the historical background and artistic quality of their
\nassorted pieces. In business terms, the value of such rarities
\nmay be hundreds or even thousands of times their nominal face
\nvalue.<\/p>",
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