Lectures on Ancient Indian Numismatics (Carmichael Lectures, 1921) c9.36

c9.36

The other mixed metals that were used for minting coins in ancient India are potin and billon. The term ‘potin’ has been invented by the numismatists¹ to denote an alloy which is composed of yellow and red copper, lead, tin and some dross. And according to the varying proportions of its first two ingredients they look sometimes like bronze and sometimes like lead. Again, billon is to silver what potin is to bronze. I have already made reference to the fact that potin coinage was struck along with lead coinage by Viḷivāyakura and his successors in the district round about Kolhāpur. Potin coinage was issued also by the Andhrabhṛtya kings, but exclusively in the Chāndā District of the Central Provinces. The Kshatrapa dynasty founded by Chashṭana had also its potin coinage, but curiously enough it was struck by the Mahākshatrapas of the family, was confined to Mālwā, and was discontinued soon after A.D. 236.