Lectures on Ancient Indian Numismatics (Carmichael Lectures, 1921) c9.15.1

c9.15.1

It will thus be seen that one of the senses of the word *rūpa* or *rūpaka* is ‘coin’ and that the Rūpa-sūtra, mentioned by Buddhaghosha, can very well signify “the science or art of coinage.” But it is worthy of note that side by side with *rūpa* we have another term, *viz.* *rūpya* which also is employed in the sense of ‘a coin.’ This word must have been current even prior to Pāṇini as he teaches its formation in the well-known Sūtra *rūpād=āhata-praśamsayor=yap*.¹ The Sūtra says that the affix *ya* comes in the sense of *matup*, after the word *rūpa*, when *āhata* (stamping) or *praśamsā* (praise) is denoted. Thus *rūpyo (gauḥ)* means *praśastam rūpam=asy=āsti*, *i.e.* one with a praiseworthy form; in other words, it means a good-looking bull. This is an instance of the word *rūpya* when *praśamsā* or praise is intended. But then what is the instance of this word where *āhata* or stamping is denoted? Unfortunately for us this Sūtra is not commented upon by Kātyāyana or Patañjali, and the Kāśikākāra is the first grammarian whose gloss is available to us. Nevertheless even this gloss is of great importance. And in regard to the use of the term *rūpya* where the sense of *āhata*, *i.e.* of ‘hammering or stamping’ is intended, we are given the following instances: *āhatam rūpam asya rūpyo Dīnāraḥ rūpyaḥ Kedāraḥ rūpyam Kārshāpaṇam*. The word *rūpya* thus denotes something on which a *rūpa* or figure is stamped. And what objects are these on which figures are stamped?