Indische Palaographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c17: II. Earliest Native Coinage
Indische Paläographie von circa 350 a. Chr. – circa 1300 p. Chr. c17
- Language
- German
Contents
- c17.s1 § 4. Standard and date of use — 9 parts
II. Earliest Native Coinage
§ 4. Standard and date of use
c17.s1.1
— The most ancient coinage of India, which seems to have been developed independently of any foreign influence, follows the native system of weights as given in Manu VIII, 132 ff. The basis of this system is the *rati* (*raktikā*), or *guñjā*-berry, the weight of which is estimated at 1,83 grains = ,118 grammes. Of the gold standard coin, the *suvarṇa* of 80 *ratis* = 146,4 grs. or 9,48 grms., no specimens are known; but of the silver *purāṇa* or *dharaṇa* of 32 *ratis* = 58,56 grs. or 3,79 grms., and of the copper *kārṣāpaṇa* of 80 *ratis* (same weight as the *suvarṇa*), and of various multiples and sub-divisions of these, numerous examples have been discovered in almost every part of India.
c17.s1.2
The estimate of the weight of the *rati* here given is that of CUNNINGHAM, CAI. p. 44. For other estimates v. TH. AIW. p. 65; SMITH, Proc. BA. 1887, p. 222, and JRAS. 1889, p. 42. For the complete system of native weights, v. C.ASR. X, 78; XIV, 17; and TH.AIW. p. 13. Cp. also AR.V (1798), p. 91; JBA. 1838, p. 892; 1864, p. 251; 1865, pp. 14. 46. 51.
c17.s1.3
The earliest specimens of this coinage are probably at least as early as the beginning of the 4^th cent. B.C.
c17.s1.4
C.ASR. I, p. 70; II, pp. 229. 264. 288; XIV, p. 17; C.NChr. 1873, p. 209; C.CAI. p. 52; TH.AIW. p. 33; BII.D.ACC. p. 1, summary of results p. 13, § 22; RAPSON, JRAS. 1895, p. 869.
c17.s1.5
In the N.W. the influence of the Greek settlers in the early part of the 2^nd cent. B.C. greatly modified this coinage; but, in other parts of India, this primitive coinage continued for some centuries longer (Th. AIW. p. 57).
c17.s1.6
§ 5. Form of the coins. — The shape of these coins is approximately square or oblong, the silver coins having been, as a rule, cut from a flat sheet of metal, and the copper coins from a bar. These primitive coins are little more than weights of metal, on which was stamped from time to time the symbol of the authority responsible for their correctness and purity. From this method of marking, they have usually been called *punch-marked* coins (**Plate I, 1**).
c17.s1.7
C.CAI. p. 42, Pl. I, 1—23; CASR. VI, 213; Th. AIW. p. 57; Collection of symbols, THEOBALD, JBA. 1890, p. 181 (rev. Rev. Num. 1892, p. 91); 1894, p. 73. Cp. also Ar. Ant. p. 403; JBRA. X, p. xxi.
c17.s1.8
§ 6. Guild-tokens. — To the same period belong the pieces (**Plate I, 2**) which BÜHLER has recognised as *guild tokens* (Indian Studies III^2, p. 49; cp. C.CAI. p. 63, Pl. III, 8—12); and, perhaps of a slightly later date, the pieces of *cast copper*, which, like these, bear inscriptions in Indian characters of an ancient form or designs of purely native art unmodified by any foreign influence (e. g. C.CAI. Pl. II, 21. 22).
c17.s1.9
Cp. also C.CAI. p. 59, Pl. I, 24—29; PE. I, p. 214; Th. AIW. p. 55.
Linked texts (1)
- Mānava Dharmaśāstra — Manu & Bhṛgu, Sanskrit