The Rashtrakutas and their Times c22.57

c22.57

Dramma, Suvarṇa, Gadyāṇaka, Kaḷanju and Kāsu are the principal coins mentioned in our period. Dramma is the Sanskritised form of the Greek term *drachme*. The silver coins of the Indo-Baktrian kings, weighing about 65 grains, were known by that name and we may presume that the weight of the *drammas* mentioned in our records was more or less the same. One of the Kanheri inscriptions belonging to the time of Amoghavarsha I mentions golden *drammas* and distinguishes them from ordinary *drammas* mentioned a little earlier.⁴³ It would thus appear that the name *dramma* was given to both silver and golden coins in the northern provinces of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa empire. Our four anna silver piece weighs about 48 grains; silver dramma was thus about one-third bigger than this coin.