In a quiet but historic moment for India’s numismatic community, and for Bangalore—Rezwan Razack has been inducted into the International Bank Note Society (IBNS) Hall of Fame—the first Indian to receive this recognition in the organisation's 64-year history.

Founded in 1961, the IBNS is a global non-profit dedicated to the study and appreciation of paper money. With 23 chapters around the world, its Hall of Fame is considered the highest honour in the world of currency collecting, reserved for individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to research, preservation, or design.

“This is something no money can buy,” Razack told Explocity in a recent conversation. “You can try all you want, but it’s not something you can get by asking.” 

So who gets it and how?

A vote decides the IBNS Hall of Fame appointees. If the committee doesn’t find a suitable candidate, that’s it. The last appointee was inducted in 2017.

The process is a month-long, confidential ballot among IBNS committee members, who only induct someone when a strong consensus emerges. While there’s no formal global ceremony, the Indian chapter is planning a local celebration to mark the milestone.

Razack’s influence in the world of currency isn’t just global—it’s deeply local. In 2020, he opened the Rezwan Razack Museum of Indian Paper Money on Brunton Road in Bengaluru. The museum houses an extraordinary collection of rare Indian banknotes, from colonial-era issues to early independence currency, including misprints, unissued designs, and fascinating oddities.

(Here’s an instagram reel of an interesting application of the Indian Rupee that has a deep and exclusive history with the city of Bangalore.)

Razack — a ‘Rupee completist’ — has long aimed to put Indian currency heritage on the global map.

Have you been to the Rupee Museum yet?

Well, much as this ought to have been a rhetorical question, if you haven’t already been, now is perfect. Nothing like experiencing firsthand what earned India its first-ever place in the IBNS Hall of Fame. It’s a treasure trove of stories, design, history—and yes, every Rupee ever minted since the time of the British and after. .Our relationship with this currency can be described as nothing short of visceral.

📍 Rezwan Razack Museum of Indian Paper Money, Brunton Road, Bengaluru
🕒 Open to visitors: 10:30am to 6pm (Monday closed)
🔗 https://bangalore.explocity.com/bangalore-guide/listing/rezwan-razacks-museum-of-indian-paper-money/