Lectures on Ancient Indian Numismatics (Carmichael Lectures, 1921) c10.13

c10.13

Let us now see what denominations of coins were prevalent in the Vedic period. We have seen that the Rig-Veda speaks of *hiraṇya-piṇḍa* and *Nishka*. The former was not any regular coin, but was rather unstamped metallic bullion. The latter alone denotes a coin, and is also a coin denomination. Another denomination which is traceable in the *Saṃhitā* portion of the Vedic literature is *Śatamāna*. Reference to it occurs, as I have elsewhere told you, in the *Taittirīya Saṃhitā*. If *Śatamāna* was known in the *Saṃhitā* period, it stands to reason that it was known also in the *Brāhmaṇa* period. Thus that denomination is referred to not only in the *Taittirīya* but also in the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa*. What is, however, interesting in this connection to note, is that in the latter *Brāhmaṇa*, the *Śatamāna* is said to be not only of gold, but of *vṛtta* or round form. The same *Brāhmaṇa* speaks of a third class of coins called *Suvarṇa* which also is said to be of gold. Mention is made of a fourth denomination in the same work, I mean, *Pāda*, which I take to stand for one-fourth of the standard coin of that period.