Collector's Show & Tell by Paul Abraham : Symbols

Collector's Show & Tell: Signs, Symbols & Meaning with Paul Abraham

Join Sarmaya collector & founder Paul Abraham for an intimate, story-filled session that uncovers the hidden signs, symbols, and layered meanings embedded in the rupee. From motifs shaped by empire to icons of identity and nationhood, explore how currency becomes a canvas of history, artistry, and intention. Think of the rupee not just as money, but as a tiny, travelling museum- carrying emblems, histories, and quiet stories in your pocket. In this show & tell session, Paul will take you through the motifs, marks, and messages that have shaped the rupee across time.

A guided peek into design, symbolism, and meaning-making, perfect for the curious wanderer who loves tracing long histories through small, beautiful objects.

This show & tell session will be facilitated at Sarmaya Arts Foundation in tandem with our new exhibition Odyssey of the Rupee: From India to the World.

Marking 75 years of the Indian Rupee, Odyssey of the Rupee is Sarmaya’s most ambitious exhibition yet. Curated by Dr Shailendra Bhandare of the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, with Sarmaya Arts Foundation, the showcase spans centuries of currency, from ancient punch-marked coins to the first coin minted in Independent India. The exhibition also explores how the rupee travelled beyond borders, featuring beautiful and rare coins and notes from regions like Mozambique, Java, and Saudi Arabia.

Meeting Point: Sarmaya Arts Foundation, 2nd floor, 276, Lawrence & Mayo Commercial Premises Society Ltd., Dr D.N. Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001.