To be held at the Institution of Engineers(I), C.M. Shah Hall, Jungli Maharaj Road, Shivajinagar, on October 30, 31 and November 1, the exhibition will offer visitors a rare opportunity to understand how and why the ECU was conceptualised and it's future role in the world economy. They will actually be able to see the facsimiles of the dollars.

Says Devdutta Angal, Secretary of the Numismatic Society, `` this is the first exhibition in India which will explain the great experiment in the history of economic affairs by the European Community member countries.'' Angal visited Berlin last year to participate in the Numismatic International Congress, and expressed a keen interest in the new currency. And the literature on the Euro Dollar will be on show for all at the exhibition.

``The history behind the designing of Euro dollars is very interesting. The Economic and Monetary Union of Europe took into account the cultural differences in every country and selected certain themes to adorn the notes,'' says Angal. So windows, gateways and bridges in different architectural styles, chosen from the various countries for their cultural heritage, will embellish one side of the dollar. The other side will have a common European Flag comprising 12 stars arranged in a compatible circle.

The Euro notes will come in seven denominations - 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500. ``Each note will be different in terms of size, paper texture and colour. So much so, that even a blind person will be able to handle the notes easily,'' says Angal. Furthermore, the excellent security features like the security thread, and diffractive reflective foil are also `note'worthy.

The exhibition promises to be a feast for coin-collectors in more ways than one. It proffers guide-books, pamphlets, demonstrations on how to raise and preserve your coin collection, exchange and purchase facilities of materials and accessories to interested persons all over India. As Devdatta Angal says, ``it's a fortuitous way to enrich your collection, gain knowledge, view fine collections and meet renowned collectors in the country.'' A perfect chance to swap notes, huh!