SINGAPORE: Indian authorities here tried to get the auction of a rare second century Indian gold coin at an international auction here cancelled on the suspicion that it was taken out of the country illegally.
The gold coin featuring Lord Ganesh with the image of Buddha in the reverse reported to be the oldest of only three coins in the world was successfully bid by anonymous Japanese for 288000 dollars by mail.
The coin was part of the 680coin collection possibly the most comprehensive collection of Indian gold coins put together by Dr. Lawrence Brent Brilliant a physician who lived in India for over 10 years.
The Indian collection was the highlight at the annual Singapore coins auction last week.
All areas of Indian numismatic history were represented in the collections which were auctioned off in individual lots for a total of 1.31 million dollars.
On the basis of the doubt raised by the Archaeological Survey of India locally based Indian official’s contacted Singapore authorities who reportedly expressed inability to interfere in the absence of any proof that the coins were taken out of India without authorization.
A Singapore company which organised the auction told Indian officials that the coins were brought legally and have changed hands on several occasions during the last 40 years.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 8, 1991
