Philatelic Stamp and Coin Exhibition Opens at Dr. T.M.A. Pai Convention Centre

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov. 23, 2025: A two-day philatelic stamp and coin exhibition organised by M. Prashanth Shetty commenced on Saturday at the Dr. T.M.A. Pai Convention Centre, showcasing 800 coins and 2,000 stamps from his extensive personal collection.

Inaugurating the event, Nitte University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. M.S. Moodithaya lauded Prashanth Shetty for providing an enriching platform for enthusiasts to expand their knowledge through a rare and diverse collection of coins and stamps.

 

Addressing the gathering, guest speaker Dr. Amarashree Amaranath Shetty, president of the Dakshina Kannada District Chess Association, said Prashanth Shetty and his family have admirably preserved and continued a hobby passed down by his father. She noted that their dedication would inspire more collectors in the future.

During the event, Prashanth Shetty’s mother, Padma R. Shetty, released a philatelist booklet. Karnataka Numismatic Society president Rajendra Maru, Merkad Prabhakar Kamath, former Fisheries College Dean Dr. H.M. Shivaprakash, along with family members Radhika Shetty, Aryan Shetty, Hemant Shetty, and Nishanth Shetty, were present.

The exhibition features a wide range of rare items, including 17th-century African coins believed to be among the earliest used globally, as well as coins from China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, representing over 40 countries. Also on display are more than 2,000 historically significant postage stamps, 1,500 postcards, and stamps printed on unique materials such as glass, shell, gold, ceramic, diamond, and microchips. The collection also includes rare first-issue Indo-Portuguese stamps from 1840.

The exhibition will be open to the public on November 23 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.