I started building a curio-cabinet from the age of 11 years, after I was first gifted
an old-world stamp album from my grandmother, which sparked my interest in
general collecting. Since then, I have always been absorbed in the History of Art and
Antiquity. This field of awareness led me to start accumulating antiques and other
finer collectables of the past.
In this progression, I specialized in classic philately and eventually ancient
numismatology. “The Silk Road Collection” of gold coins, which tells a numismatic
journey along the Euro-Asian trading routes, was formed over 33 years.
1. British Museum, UK in 1998
In 1998 the majority of this unique collection was housed at the Coin & Medal
Department of the British Museum, London, UK, for scholars to research. The collection
was housed at the department for over 20 years. It was researched, referenced and
finally recorded along with many of the other ancient coins in the Museum’s digitally
catalogued archive. During this period, I initiated the “Chand A&Z Numismatic Fund”,
with the guidance of Joe Cribb & support of the department, to help fund up-coming
scholars on their research related with the museum’s various numismatic projects.
2. Asian Civilization Museum, Singapore in 2002
In 2002, with the assistance of the British Museum, a small segment of this growing
collection was also displayed at the Asian Civilization Museum, Singapore, to represent
the Ancient South & East-Asian heritage and their connectivity. The collection was
housed on permanent display in one of the main galleries for nearly 20 years.
3. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK in 2010
In 2010, I gifted to the Department of Coins & Medals, four very important Ancient
Chinese gold coins ranging from the Chu Dynasty, Warring States Period of Wester
Han Dynasty, Xin Dynasty and Song Dynasty.
Today, the third part of this collection will be auctioned off by “Feldman International
Auctions”, Geneva, Switzerland. I’m confident that each piece finds a new home and
an owner who will appreciate its historical importance.
Vikramm Chand FRPSL
A WORD FROM VIKRAMM CHAND