RBI Monetary Museum – India’s only numismatic museum

Does your interest lie in numismatic or you want to know all about currencies and their development? Then book your cheap flights to Mumbai now and spend some time visiting the Reserve Bank of India Monetary Museum. It is only one of its kind numismatic museums in the country today.

The museum is situated in the southern part of Mumbai in Fort area. India’s premier bank Reserve Bank of India, which came into existence during British rule on 1st April 1935, founded this museum. The Reserve Bank of India Monetary Museum officially opened its door to the public on 1st January 2005.

India has been known as among the few countries that first started minting coins. The museum took shape because of the Indian government’s desire to propagate the history of currencies in India. The museum offers an effective and great platform to the visitors, students and researchers to enhance knowledge and acquaint themselves with the historical development of coins and currencies. The museum held its first exhibition in 1998. The museum can be visited round the year from 10.45 am to 6.15 pm except on Sundays, bank holidays as well as other public holidays. The museum is also open on Saturdays until 1.15 pm.

The Reserve Bank of India Monetary Museum traces the history of Indian currencies and its equivalents starting from the barter days to the modern credit cards presently. Rare exhibits belonging to the Neolithic age are to be found here.

The exhibition at the museum is spread into six sections. The first section showcases the exhibits representing the days when barter began. In this section, the Neolithic money and its equivalent have been depicted. These included cowrie shells, beads, blade knives and axes. This section also exhibits the first coins which were in the shape of bent metal pieces, bracelets, bullets and boats. This section showcases above 1,500 exhibits, which also includes those procured from private collectors.

This is only one section described here. Do remember to visit the Reserve Bank of India Monetary Museum next time and explore the other sections as well that are indeed quite interesting.