(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat- A philatelist and a numismatist, Alya al Raisi's impressive collection of coins and stamps has grown with her and so has her passion. One can travel the whole world through her collection of rare stamps and coins displayed at Naseem Gardens.
She started when she was very young. 'My father gave me some old coins when I was small. I kept adding to that, and today I have more than 1,500 coins and 500 rare stamps from more than 80 countries around the world,' said Alya, a resident of Ma'abela.
The impressive collection by Alya also comprises some of the oldest stamps of Oman. 'I have Omani stamps belonging to 1969. These bear the name of the Sultanate of Oman,' said the enthusiastic collector.
She sources coins mainly by travelling.
'I keep travelling to places like Kuwait and Qatar to add value to my collection. Sometimes, I get items from Oman itself. I have coins dating back to the Islamic era more than 1,000 years ago.'
The collection is no less than a history lesson that takes you through the various periods in time. 'I have coins used during the reign of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said's father as well. I even have a half-rial Dhafari, a gold coin that bears the name of Said bin Taimur bin Faisal bin Turki al Busaidi of Oman.'
A seller and a buyer Alya is always on the lookout for people like her. 'Though my main purpose is to exhibit my collection, I also sell some of my pieces to those who share my passion. At the same time, if I come across anyone with rare coins and stamps, I am ready to buy or exchange them,' said Alya.
She has turned a part of her home into a museum so that her treasure is not lost.
'The museum is called Beit Ayoub. With the help of National Museum I ensure that my collectibles are original. I hope my museum attracts a lot of tourists.'
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