Bengaluru’s collectibles come from two directions: old Bangalore families with coin boxes, stamp albums, brass and rosewood pieces, and Mysore-style paintings, and newcomers who picked up curios elsewhere and are now clearing out before a move. Coins from the old Mysore kingdom, including Tipu Sultan’s era, are part of the local collecting story.
If you are looking for where to sell collectibles in Bengaluru, or want to buy them, a face-to-face deal with a local collector is the safest route. Listing is free, with no commission.
Where to sell collectibles in Bengaluru
- Directly to collectors. A free local listing puts your coins, notes, stamps or antiques in front of collectors across the city, who can examine them and pay you in person.
- Dealers and shops. Coin, stamp and curio dealers buy for resale, so expect a lower offer than a collector would pay. The Commercial Street and Avenue Road areas have long had antique, curio and old-book trade, and a dealer’s quote gives you a floor price.
- Collector groups and fairs. Coin and stamp fairs are held in the city from time to time and are a good place to learn what things sell for.
The “old coin buyer” fraud
Ads and calls offering a fortune for an old coin or note, then demanding a registration fee, GST, processing charge or “RBI certificate” fee, are a scam. The Reserve Bank of India does not buy, sell or certify old coins and notes, and has warned the public that its name is misused in these frauds. A genuine buyer never charges the seller. Do not pay anything, share an OTP or scan a QR code to “receive” money. Selling to a local buyer you meet face to face, who pays on the spot, avoids the whole problem.
Authenticity and condition
- Do not clean coins. Polished coins lose most of their collector value.
- Grade honestly. Sharpness of detail, lustre and the absence of rim knocks and scratches matter more than age. Terms run from “fine” through “very fine” and “extremely fine” to “uncirculated”.
- Watch for copies. Old silver coins, including Mysore issues, are widely copied. Check for soft detail, casting seams and wrong weight; silver is not magnetic.
- Paper. Notes and stamps are judged on folds, tears, pinholes, stains and toning. Bengaluru is milder than coastal cities, but monsoon damp still affects albums.
- Paintings and craft. For Mysore-style paintings, rosewood inlay or sandalwood carving, ask about age, the artist and any restoration.
Pricing, law and selling tips
Compare with current listings and more than one dealer quote, and ignore online claims that a common coin is worth lakhs. Genuine antiques over a hundred years old may be covered by the Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972, which restricts sale and bars export. When selling, photograph both sides in daylight, give the year, mint and condition, and meet in a public place. Read our guide to selling art & collectibles, see coins & stamps across India or post a free ad. Also browse collectibles in Jaipur and all Bengaluru listings.
