Why and What We Collect--A Tale of Two Barung

A. G. Maisey · 26th August 2014, 11:04 PM

Yep, coins too for me.

In fact that was probably my first collection when I was only a little kid, maybe 4 years old, certainly before I went to school.

In later years I built a pretty decent collection of Indian hand struck coins, and a good collection of Indonesian currency from the time Indonesia became an independent nation.

Haven't added much in recent years, principally because of the cost and rarity of the hand strucks.

Would I buy a defective hand struck coin?

No, probably not, reason being that I don't know much about these, I'm not a dedicated collector of coins, and I'm not all that keen on learning much about them. They're just something I like.

fernando · 27th August 2014, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

... In later years I built a pretty decent collection of Indian hand struck coins ...

Sorry to interrupt the conversation, Alan ...
Are you referring to this type of coins ?
These are Karshapanas of the Maurya Dinasty (300 BC), allegedly found in the Elephanta Island.
... But i learnt they are not that rare

.

A. G. Maisey · 27th August 2014, 10:29 PM

They may not be rare, but I haven't seen them.

However, yes, more or less like that, but mine are much later. I've got a few quite elderly coins, but these are not Indian.

I'll put up a pic or two as soon as I get a chance.

ariel · 27th August 2014, 11:06 PM

Going to the extreme, which one would you buy: old, beat up khanda with nick-ed edges and simple Old Indian hilt or a modern Rajastani replica with modern damascus blade and a hilt covered in golden decorations?

Both are genuine Indian, both reflect centuries-old tradition, but... the lavish example has no magic of history behind it. It has no tales to tell.

I go for the simple and old examples.
My wife once asked me whether I thought that some.. at least some... of my sword actually, you know.... KILLED people?
Well, - I said, - I hope so!

Otherwise, they would not be weapons. Wall hangers, no more. No amount of decoration, Kirk Narduban , exotic pamor, rare wood, shiny blade or perfect fit of the scabbard or a handle can substitute for the aura of history.

This is my personal view, and I defininitely don't want to impose my philosophy on anybody. Please, have your rich, decorated, pristine things. I shall be only glad to go for the old, often beat up and simple fighting examples. To each his own.

fernando · 27th August 2014, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

...No amount of decoration, Kirk Narduban , exotic pamor, rare wood, shiny blade or perfect fit of the scabbard or a handle can substitute for the aura of history.
...

Amen

I don't collect this kind of weapons, but the reasoning is the same for any area.
I also take it that antiquity prevails over any other attributes.

A. G. Maisey · 28th August 2014, 12:03 AM

Here are a couple pics of pages from my coin album, pretty typical of the rest of it, a mixture of coins from far away places and mostly historic, with a weighting towards Indian hand strucks.

Not much that is of any real value, not much that is really old. But all a bit exotic.

A. G. Maisey · 28th August 2014, 12:09 AM

That's a pretty clear statement of motivation Ariel.

I've often encountered this and I continue to find it very interesting.

Rick · 28th August 2014, 03:00 AM

Weapons of conflict raised by desperate men in desperate times .
There's something to be said for that .

fernando · 29th August 2014, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Here are a couple pics of pages from my coin album, pretty typical of the rest of it, a mixture of coins from far away places and mostly historic, with a weighting towards Indian hand strucks.

Not much that is of any real value, not much that is really old. But all a bit exotic.

Yeah, quite a difference in age between these interesting examples of yours and the early karshapanas i posted ... actualy the only pieces i keep since i quit collecting coins (no budget for collecting both early/silver/gold coins & antique weapons

).
It didn't occur to me that, at the age of your rupees, coins still were hand struck; my kignorance

Jens Nordlunde · 29th August 2014, 04:24 PM

Andrew,
No reason to exchuse that you have chosen to collect within a relatively 'small' area :-).
So have I, as my wife many years ago explained to me that I should chose what to collect. I had Indian weapons a fantastic saif, and some beautiful shasquas, but the Indian colelction was by far the biggest, so I coose Indian weapons.
To collect weapons from a specific area means, that research is directed to this area only, and it gives you a very big knowledge about weapons from this area. Some restricts their collection even more, to maybe 15th to 18th century, and this gives an even more concentrated knowledge :-).
Jens

28th August 2014, 12:03 AM	#6
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Here are a couple pics of pages from my coin album, pretty typical of the rest of it, a mixture of coins from far away places and mostly historic, with a weighting towards Indian hand strucks. Not much that is of any real value, not much that is really old. But all a bit exotic. Attached Images

26th August 2014, 11:04 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Yep, coins too for me. In fact that was probably my first collection when I was only a little kid, maybe 4 years old, certainly before I went to school. In later years I built a pretty decent collection of Indian hand struck coins, and a good collection of Indonesian currency from the time Indonesia became an independent nation. Haven't added much in recent years, principally because of the cost and rarity of the hand strucks. Would I buy a defective hand struck coin? No, probably not, reason being that I don't know much about these, I'm not a dedicated collector of coins, and I'm not all that keen on learning much about them. They're just something I like.

27th August 2014, 10:29 PM	#3
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	They may not be rare, but I haven't seen them. However, yes, more or less like that, but mine are much later. I've got a few quite elderly coins, but these are not Indian. I'll put up a pic or two as soon as I get a chance.

27th August 2014, 11:06 PM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Going to the extreme, which one would you buy: old, beat up khanda with nick-ed edges and simple Old Indian hilt or a modern Rajastani replica with modern damascus blade and a hilt covered in golden decorations? Both are genuine Indian, both reflect centuries-old tradition, but... the lavish example has no magic of history behind it. It has no tales to tell. I go for the simple and old examples. My wife once asked me whether I thought that some.. at least some... of my sword actually, you know.... KILLED people? Well, - I said, - I hope so! Otherwise, they would not be weapons. Wall hangers, no more. No amount of decoration, Kirk Narduban , exotic pamor, rare wood, shiny blade or perfect fit of the scabbard or a handle can substitute for the aura of history. This is my personal view, and I defininitely don't want to impose my philosophy on anybody. Please, have your rich, decorated, pristine things. I shall be only glad to go for the old, often beat up and simple fighting examples. To each his own.

28th August 2014, 12:09 AM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	That's a pretty clear statement of motivation Ariel. I've often encountered this and I continue to find it very interesting.

28th August 2014, 03:00 AM	#8
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,339	Weapons of conflict raised by desperate men in desperate times . There's something to be said for that .

29th August 2014, 04:24 PM	#10
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Andrew, No reason to exchuse that you have chosen to collect within a relatively 'small' area :-). So have I, as my wife many years ago explained to me that I should chose what to collect. I had Indian weapons a fantastic saif, and some beautiful shasquas, but the Indian colelction was by far the biggest, so I coose Indian weapons. To collect weapons from a specific area means, that research is directed to this area only, and it gives you a very big knowledge about weapons from this area. Some restricts their collection even more, to maybe 15th to 18th century, and this gives an even more concentrated knowledge :-). Jens