A coin’s real value

Small coins mean nothing in a country where prices of essential commodities zoom without any prior notice. These coins contribute nothing to our basket when one goes to a shop. Not even a piece of bread can be bought with a single coin. It seems coins have lost their intrinsic value. Even the neighbourhood kirana shop owner thinks coins have lost their shine and are worthless. Some even consider it a burden and discomfort to carry coins while they are travelling. This has become a common and even highly fashionable view. Surprisingly, we still find a handful of people who passionately collect rare coins. They value vintage coins much more than their face value. Their charm is such that these collectors don’t mind spending astronomical amounts for adding new coins into their collection. From coins that bear the image of Queen Victoria or US President Abraham Lincoln to those that bear the image of Mahatma Gandhi or Nelson Mandela, these are invaluable for these passionate collectors. A small coin may not help you buy any article, but it is not worthless. Coins symbolise good fortune. They have also been playing an important role in keeping our old traditions and beliefs alive. At traditional gatherings, relatives offer coins as gifts. It is believed that coins add to the prosperity of the receiver. We can also find a plenty of coins lying in the temples near the presiding deity’s idol. It is commonly believed that divine spirits accept such offerings. People often toss coins into fountains and make a wish. Besides all this, a coin still fetches a glass of cold water on a really hot afternoon. Some traditions never die. A cricket match kicks-off with the tossing of a coin. Fortune and prosperity are what a coin is supposed to bring, this is true even today when every payment is made through credit cards.