In these times of iPhones, if you thought sepia-tinted stamps and coins have lost their old world charm, think again. For, on an average of every 15.5 minutes, a stamp or a coin is traded on leading online marketplace eBay India. Interestingly, the biggest draw among the coins are the Indian ones and pre-Independence stamps are favoured most by buyers. “In recent years, we are witnessing good sales of collectibles especially coins, currency notes and stamps. There are always takers for such items around the year and the demand is usually high during Independence Day and Republic Day,” eBay India’s senior manager (corporate communications and pop culture) Deepa M Thomas said.

Trading data available for the April to June quarter show that a coin was sold every 13 minutes on eBay while a stamp was bought every 18 minutes. About 70 per cent of those who purchase collectibles are from India while the remaining are international buyers. At any time, nearly 20,000 stamps, coins and notes are on sale on eBay India site.

Rajesh Agarwal, an active seller of British India and Princely States coins on eBay pointed out that the number of buyers have been on the rise. “I sell different kinds of coins, some of which are centuries old. Right from Gandhi and Nehru coins to commemorative ones, a lot of people are interested in buying them and sometimes, foreigners also make purchases.

“Further, I have a silver coin which is more than 1,000 years old,” he said. While the average age of buyers is between 18-35 years, the purchasers of collectibles are bit more on the higher age side.