Lectures on Ancient Indian Numismatics (Carmichael Lectures, 1921) c10.62

c10.62

The weight of a Dramma has been found to approximate to 65 grains. Indeed, there are Drammas which weigh even less than 60 grains. This diminution of weight may be explained exactly in the manner in which we explained divergence of weight in the case of Kārshāpaṇa. It is, therefore, quite correct to say that the standard weight of Dramma comes to 65 grains, whereas the Greek Drachma weighs only 66 grains. The difference is so insignificant that it may be safely neglected. It was this standard of weight, according to which gold, silver and copper coins were struck. The name Dramma was, however, restricted to the silver class only, the copper class being generally known as Gadhaiyā-kā-paisā. Various rulers of this period issued Drammas which are therefore named after them. We have thus Śrīmad-Ādivarāha-dramma called after Bhoja-Ādivarāha of the Pratihāra dynasty,¹ Vigrahapālīya-dramma (also Vigraha-tuṅgīya-dramma) supposed to be named after Vigrahapāla of the Pāla dynasty,² and Ajayadeva-dramma struck by Ajayadeva³ the Chauhān king, who founded the city of Ajmer in Rājputānā. Of course, there were other kinds of Drammas which apparently were not connected with the name of any king. Such, *e.g.*, is the Pañchiyaka-dramma, which is mentioned in the Sīyaḍoṇī inscription.⁴ What the meaning of the word Pañchiyaka is we cannot for certain tell. Possibly it denoted the coinage struck by the local Pañchāyat. What, however, we are here concerned with is that the denomination Dramma, which denoted a silver coin and was in imitation of the Sassanian coinage, was prevalent in India in the mediæval period. Of the same period are copper coins which are commonly known as Ga-dhāiyā-kā-paisā. That they also are imitations of the Sassanian originals is indisputable. And the only names that have so far been traced on them are Śrī-Chhittarāja⁵ who has been identified with the Chhittarāja of the Silāhāra dynasty of Thāṇā, and Śrī-Somaladevī,¹ Queen of the Chauhān king Ajayadeva. Gold coins of the same weight standard were issued by some royal dynasties of the mediæval period such as Kalachuris, the Chandellas, the Gāhaḍavālas and so forth. How they were exactly designated in that period we do not know. But there is an inscription in a Kaṇherī cave of the time of the Rāshṭrakūṭa king, Amoghavarsha,² which speaks of Kāñchana-Drammas, which must, I think, stand for these gold coins. I have already mentioned that in the Cambay copper-plate charter of Govinda IV, Suvarṇas have been referred to. In inscriptions and literature of this period, we find mention also made of Nishkas. It appears that both Suvarṇas and Nishkas denoted Kāñchana-Drammas during the mediæval period. How the copper coins of this weight standard were designated at that time we do not know. In modern parlance, they are called Gaḍhaiyā-kā-paisā, as I have just told you.