Age of the Nandas and Mauryas c12.s6.8

c12.s6.8

¹ On different interpretations of the obverse marks, see Durga Prasad, *JASB.*, N. S. XXX(1934), pp. 17 ff. : Walsh, *Punch-marked Coins from Taxila*, pp. 18-25 : D.D. Kosambi, *op. cit.*, pp. 2 ff. Regarding metrology A. S. Hemmy (*JRAS*, 1937, pp. 1-26) concluded after an elaborate examination that the silver punch-marked coins conform to the weight-standard of 54 grains, which is exactly one-quarter of the principal weight of the revised Indus system of weights, and nominally represents Manu's standard of 32 *ratis* (58.56 grains). Criticising this view, D. D. Kosambi concludes (*op. cit.* pp. 58-9) that the system of Mohenjodaro weights was applied for the earlier Taxilan hoard, while in the Maurya period although the average remained the same, the variance increased enormously thus pointing to a far cruder system than before.