PUNE: Currency crunch may be the order of the day but for at assembled at Sonal Hall on Karve Road on Saturday, the green stuff was the last of their worries.After all, the 106th auction of rare coins, bank notes and medals organized by Mumbai-based Todywalla Auctions was being held in the city after a decade and was cashless.57-year-old Ramesh Shinde, a Mumbai resident and a passionate coin and antiques collector, turned into the star of the evening after he bid the highest amount, Rs12.5 lakh, for a Victoria Empress half anna gold coin. The overall amount he spent on buying various coins at the event was approximately Rs24.5 lakh. His purchases included a gold mohur from the Shah Jahan period (1628-1658 AD) and a medal (breast star silver gilt and enamel with wreath under) as well as other coins and notes.However, Shinde was a tad disappointed as he was overbid at times and could not buy every item he had set his heart on. “Overall, I am satisfied to have bid on a few specifics that I was looking for,” he said. Shinde has been collecting coins and antiques for the last 17 years.Todywalla Auctions, however, was glad about the response they received. Delna Toddywala said, “We are happy with Pune’s response this time. The collector base in the city has increased over time.”She pointed out that a large number of bidders are now moving from cash and cheque transactions to debit and credit card payments. “The coin and antique auction section has not been affected due to demonetization in any way. The auction saw almost 250 bidders including 50 on-floor bidders and 200 online bidders,” she pointed out.Among the items that came under the hammer, was a Rs500 note that was blank on one side due to a printing error. It’s estimated price was Rs3,000 to Rs4,000 but it fetched a bid of Rs12,000. Most bidders did not aim for anything priced higher than Rs50,000. Of course, there were a few bidders to whom the item’s value mattered more than the price. The auction saw more buyers for coins than tokens and badges.One of the highlights of the auction was the Rs10 gold coin dated 1870AD. Regarded as one of the rarest gold coins from India, it weighs eight grams or the weight of a sovereign.A statement issued earlier by the auction house said, “Considering the important role this city has played in the long and illustrious history of the Marathas, it’s only apt that we offer for auction our choicest Maratha coins. From coins struck by Sadashivrao Bhau to Nagpur Bhonsla Raghuji II to coins struck in the then city of Poona by other Maratha rulers. There is something on offer for everybody.”Another historically relevant coin to the city was the Copper Pice or Copperoon, which has the seal of the East India Company and was used in the Bombay Presidency region. Also on offer were several gold coins such as that of the Mughal emperors Akbar and Shah Jahan. Erstwhile Vijaynagar empire coins have images of Shiva and Parvati while some other coins have imprints of Lord Krishna.About 600 different items, spanning from the beginnings of Indian coinage, a silver punched mark coin about 2400 years old from the Kashi and Avanti Janapada period, were auctioned. These coins were estimated as low as Rs1,000 ranging to Rs30,000. An 1,800-year-old gold coin from the Kushana period was estimated at Rs28,000.