Lectures on Ancient Indian Numismatics (Carmichael Lectures, 1921) c10.70

c10.70

What about the sub-divisions of this Dramma denomination? Were any known at this period? I have in this connection to refer you to the Siyaḍoṇī inscription, which speaks of no less than two such sub-divisions, namely, Pāda and Vimśopaka. Thus we find mentioned Pañchiyaka-dramma-satka-pāda and Śrīmad-Ādi-varāha-drammasya Pāda¹ on the one hand, and Varāhakīya-viṃśopaka, Vigraha-dramma-viṃśopaka and Bhīmapriya Viṃśopaka² on the other. Of course, Pāda must denote here one-fourth of the Dramma by whomsoever it was struck, and Viṃśopaka one-twentieth part thereof. What is worthy of note is that both denote specific coins. As a matter of fact, we do find coins of the mediæval dynasties which are one-fourth, as there are some which are one-half, of the weight of the Dramma. The first class is evidently intended here by the designation Pāda. There is, however, no silver or gold coin which is one-twentieth part of the weight. I, therefore, suspect that Viṃśopaka signifies a copper piece which is one-twentieth part in value of the original dramma. If this surmise is a likely one, we have to suppose that Viṃśopaka denotes a Paṇa or Māsha according, however, to the table of Kātyāyana which makes a Māsha or Paṇa as one-twentieth part of Kārshāpaṇa in value. The Kārshāpaṇa of this table must evidently stand for a silver coin, and is probably another name for Dramma. This class of Kārshāpaṇa, as Kātyāyana tells us, was prevalent in the Punjab, and we may take it also in Rājputānā and Gujarāt, and must in no way be confounded with the copper Kārshāpaṇa mentioned by Kātyāyana immediately afterwards as a synonym for Aṇḍikā and as being one-fourth of Dhānaka.¹