Will India’s currency mints die a quiet death?

For generations, coins have helped historians and archaeologists piece together the stories of India’s ancient past. But now, these tiny metal chronicles are at the risk of vanishing, as the country’s coin-minting machines slow down and, in some places, stop altogether. “In 2010, you couldn’t hear yourself talk in this hall,” recalls a 22-year veteran at the Noida mint, with his voice echoing in the cavernous space. “The presses never stopped.