Lectures on Ancient Indian Numismatics (Carmichael Lectures, 1921) c10.15

c10.15

¹ In this connection I may draw the attention of scholars to two thin pieces, one of gold and the other of silver, which were found in the Piprāwā Stūpa which is supposed to contain the remains of Buddha and which was probably of the 6th century B. C. The pieces are impressed with symbols and cannot therefore be looked upon as merely curious specimens of gold and silver foil. They no doubt each weigh a little over one grain. But we must note that the average weight of Kṛiṣṇalaka is 1·83 grains. May these have been intended for Kṛiṣṇalaka coins—an inference which agrees with the fact that coins have been found in all Buddhist Stūpas of importance and might have been conspicuous by their absence only in the Piprāwā Stūpa if these pieces had not been regarded as coins.