Hyderabad: The long-cherished dream of Hyderabad Citizens fructified, as India Government Mint, a Unit of SPMCIL opened the doors of the Saifabad Mint after converting a part to a Museum and dedicated the same to the Nation on the occasion of 75 years of independence.
The Museum will be open for the public from 8th June till 13th June from 10 AM to 5 PM. Rare coins and currency printed at the Saifabad Mint will be showcased at the museum. Besides, machinery used for minting coins and currency during the Nizam-era will also be on display. As per the directions of the Government of India, the Ministry of Finance, Azadi Ke Amrit Mahotsav celebrations are being held by SPMCIL from 6th June to 13th June, in all the Units of SPMCIL.
Tripti Patra Ghosh , CMD , SPMCIL in a glittering function opened the Museum in presence of S K Sinha, Director, Ajay Agarwal, Director Finance, K Nikhila, Regional Director, RBI, Hyderabad, Anuradha Reddy, Head of Hyderabad chapter of IUNTACH, Dr A N Reddy, Director, Salarjung Museum, Saffiulla, Historian – Hyderabad, Amarbeer Singh, Dr Anchuri, a Leading Architect and D Shyamala, DIG, CISF, Rajeev Singh, Deputy Secretary from Ministry of Finance A Numismatist amongst many others.
Saifabad Mint Museum beautifully depicts the History of Mints. The collections include the first Rupiya Coin issued by Sher Shah Suri, History of IGM, Hyderabad, and History of the Mints under the Government of India, the Asaf Jahi coins, and a photo collection of Glimpses of Old Mint Memories. The Museum presents Coins based on shapes and Coins made from Metals of different types. The Museum possesses the precious Die striking stone that enabled punch-marked coin way back in 1803 at Sultan Sahi. The Focus of the display is on Republic India coinage, Commemorative coinage, and the Minting process presented through a lively video so that you can see how a Mint works.
The Mint felicitated Najaf Ali Khan, Grandson of the H.E.H. Late Nizam VII of Hyderabad S/o. Late Prince Hasham Jah Bahadur, President, Nizam Family Welfare Association, K K Parakalan, Former General Manager, India Government Mint, Hyderabad, Kanti Kumar Sevak, Managing Trustee of Academy for Promotion and Research in Numismatics, Editor of Coins & Paper Money News and Shri M Karthik, Architect & Graphic Designer.
Saifabad Mint is a pride for the Deccan heritage as it excelled in making coins, notes, stamps, and other engineering items, setting the first stage of industrialisation, dating back to 1903. Mir Mahboob Ali Khan (1869-1911), the Sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, established this Mint similar to the European Mints in 1903. Hyderabad was the only native state in India that enjoyed the privilege of coinage in India. Saifabad Mint was the epicenter for the Minting of Coins, holding a special place in the history of India, known for its exceptional calligraphic quality.The architecture and functionality of the Saifabad Mint are unique for their structural stability. The old gun barrels decorate the entranceways. The columns are made of steel with beautiful carvings. This Monument of Engineering had woven into the life and economy of Deccan. The sweat and blood of hundreds of employees made it happen with tremendous dedication. This is the first living Mint Technology Museum in the country, which has the Old Machines from 1903 vintage in European style that made the best coins known for Calligraphic quality. (INN)