Written by: Sadaf Shahzad
Posted on: August 18, 2020 | 
| 中文
The State Bank Building (photo credits to Muhammad Umar)
One would be surprised to find that one of the best-kept museums in all of Karachi is actually the State Bank of Pakistan Museum and Art Gallery (SBPMAG), with its impressive collection of monetary artifacts from Pakistan’s history. While it may be difficult to imagine that a museum of coins could prove to be an exciting activity, SBPMAG has attempted to go beyond the simple act of collecting and displaying coins, to showcase an exploration into history, art and aesthetics.
The building itself boasts an impressive and imposing structure on I.I. Chundrigar Road, harking back to the architecture of the British Era. Built in 1923, it was called ‘India House’ and was the official premises of the Imperial Bank of India, the largest commercial bank of the Indian Subcontinent during colonial rule. The exterior of the building is a Greco-Roman structure made of rare Jodhpur Red Sandstone, with large, columns maintaining the structure. Inside, the clean lines and stone columns make the museum feel airy and clean, while the original Burmese Teak cases, doors and windows give the site an antique look. After Partition and the creation of the Standard Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in 1948, the building served as a foreign exchange office as well as a library.
While the building has been around since colonial times, the museum was founded in 2004 by the then-Governor of the State Bank, Dr. Ishrat Hussain. Its aim was threefold: to protect the beautiful structure of the ancient building; to trace the monetary history of Pakistan and the wider Indian Subcontinent; and to support the indigenous artistic talent in the country. SBP Museum was officially inaugurated in 2007, after a six-year hunt for the precious artifacts that were to be housed inside. Since 2006, SBPMAG has been under the careful watch of its Director, Archaeologist and Museulogist, Dr. Asma Ibrahim.
The Main Hall of the Museum (photo credits to Muhammad Umar)
Currently, the Museum is divided into seven galleries that record the history of the State Bank of Pakistan itself, the coin gallery, other types of currencies, a stamp gallery, and the art gallery. One can find currency dating from 600 BC to 2014, and over seven thousand banknotes. It is also commendable that this museum is the only one in the country that caters to the disabled, with wheelchair-friendly halls, and facilities for the sight and hearing impaired. However, the only two reservations about the museum are that not only is it closed on Sundays, when people are able to visit, but also the site itself is notorious for its lack of parking space.
What the museum tries (and successfully) manage to do, is to outline a story of power and social change through the timeline of coins and currency. Each coin or piece of currency shows symbols and images which were of utmost importance to people of that era. While the first form of currency had symbolic images on them to denote value, it was the invasion of Alexander the Great into the Subcontinent (incomplete) that changed the images on coins, from those of simple cattle, to those which venerated great men.
From then onwards, the minting of a coin, both regular and special commemorative, were symbols of the king’s increasing power and prestige. When the Mughals arrived, they replaced the idea of placing faces on coins, opting instead for calligraphy and designs. In fact, the origin of the word “Rupee”, which is the present day name for the currency in Pakistan, India and a few other places, comes from Sher Shah Suri’s “Rupiya”, which was later adapted by the Mughals after 1545.
Sher Shah Suri's Coin with a Star of David on the Top corner (photo credits to Muhammad Umar)
However, some coins which were minted during the late Mughal era did have images on them, as a way to express solidarity or give importance to certain communities which were steadily gaining power as the Mughal rule was in its Twilight. Examples of these images include those of the Star of David, Tipu Sultan, Guru Nanak, and portraits of British rulers (which were minted as the British gained control of Mughal territories).
While money became increasingly sophisticated in the modern world, the ideas of important symbols and markings of social change on currency remained. The earliest currency of Pakistan was designed by a British man named Thomas Dilarow, and it was in 1957 that the first currency featuring the Quaid-e-Azam’s face was published. Other fascinating pieces in the collection, include the joint currency used in both Pakistan and India right after Partition as a way to ease the transition of division, and the Bengali Pakistani notes, which were used in both East and West Pakistan before the War of 1971.
The first note published with Quaid-e-Azam on it, 1957
Moving on to the Art Gallery, SBP Museum is most famously known for housing the largest collection of Sadequain paintings in Pakistan, with paintings, collages and personal notes from the great artist. The largest of these paintings is the ‘Treasure of Time’, a 65x10ft mural of 46 thinkers who left a lasting impact on the history of the world, with himself in the middle. Works by other renowned Pakistani artists like Zahoor ul-Akhlaq and Ismail Gulgee are also present in the museum, mostly as loans or donations from private collectors. Moreover, the museum has kept a separate space for upcoming contemporary artists to showcase their works.
Many have lauded the museum’s efforts in creating informative yet engaging displays that narrate the history of Pakistan through currency, art and material artifacts. The evenly spaced, comprehensive exhibits combined with the magnificent architecture of the colonial building, makes for one of the most unique and worthwhile museum experiences in Karachi.
A Part of the 'Treasures of Time' Mural
The museum is free and open to all visitors from Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and is closed on Sundays.
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