Anshu Chappidi

What started as a family on the search for antiques blossomed into sophomore Anshu Chappidi’s fondness for coins. With over 30 different types of currencies, Chappidi enjoys doing coin rubbings, a way to see the markings on the coin by putting a piece of paper over a coin and shading over it. 

Some of the coins are hundreds of years old, such as pesos. Others span about three inches in diameter. They also vary in weight and metal type.

“I think they’re really pretty. I do coin rubbings with them because the markings on them are interesting. I have a cute [quarter] of two bats hanging upside down. I think it was made in 2020. I love it,” Chappidi said.

Recently, Chappidi’s family has not been as fervently collecting, but Chappidi has continued focusing on coins. After her family introduced her to this hobby, Chappidi started seeing the beauty in currencies everywhere.

“Some of the first coins I got [were] from the school vending machine because it kept returning my quarters. They were really [nice]. These coins looked like they’d been polished. I [thought] ‘I’m never using these coins, ever,” Chappidi said.