In 25 years, Manish Dhameja has amassed a personal collection of over one million coins from 501 current and defunct nations, territories and islands

A prolific Indian coin collector - dubbed the "King of Coins" - has announced his intention to open the world's largest coin museum in the UAE.

Over the course of the last 25 years, 30-year old Lucknow native Manish Dhameja has amassed a personal collection of over one million coins from 501 current and defunct nations, territories andislands, some dating as far back as the 16th century. Collectively, the coins are valued at well over $1 million.

Dhameja has entered several record books, including the Guinness Book of World Records, for his collection of bi-metallic coins (which are comprised of more than one metal).

Now, he wants to bring his collection to the UAE, and on June 16th filed a project proposal to the UAE's Embassy in New Delhi. He hopes the new museum will become an attractive option forresidents and tourists alike.

"I believe that the UAE is the best place for me to fulfill my dream," he told Khaleej Times.

According to Dhameja, his interest in coins began at the tender age of five. "It was just because of my great grandfather and father that I also started developing (an) interest incoins," he said.

"My father had a piggy bank full of coins, which he got from my great grandfather.I was just a tiny tot when I saw my dad collecting coins in that piggy bank. Coins were something like atreasure to me," he added.

Driven by curiosity, the young Manish says he smashed open the piggy bank, and made off with the coins.

"I was scared of a scolding, so I kept (the coins) hidden in a storeroom. After a few days, we were given an activity in school in which we were asked to make something out of wastematerial," he recalls.

"When I presented these coins in my craft file, it was appreciated by my school teachers and friends and I won a "Best Hobby" award. That was beginning of my hobby and interest incoins."

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Indian collector seeks to open largest coin museum in UAE(http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/indian-collector-seeks-to-open-largest-coin-museum-in-uae)

Heaviest coin-like medallion

Who
DAMAS JEWELLERY

Where
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (DUBAI)

When
15 DECEMBER 2008

The largest coin- like medallion has the dimensions of 1m (39.37 In) diameter, 2.3 cm (0.9 In) thick and it weighed 185.88 kg (409.8 lb). The coin-like medallion was made by Damas jewellery (UAE)to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum Medical Science award in Dubai, UAE on 15 December 2008. The coin-like medallion has a value of 1million AED ($272,257) and was made offine silver and gold plated with 22 carat gold.

Farthest distance to blow a coin

Who
ASHRITA FURMAN

What
4.947 CENTIMETRE(S)

Where
UNITED STATES (JAMAICA, NEW YORK,YMCA GYMANSIUM)

When
09 OCTOBER 2010

The farthest distance to blow a coin is 4.947 m (16 ft 2.76 in) and was achieved by Ashrita Furman (USA) in the gymansium of the Jamaica YMCA in Jamaica, New York, USA on 9 October 2010.

To visit the Guiness web site (registration required), see:
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/