The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c7.s7.45

v1.c7.s7.45

⁴ *Lüders* No. 1133 (Nāsik No. 12, *EI*, viii). *Kārṣāpaṇa’s* Sanskrit equivalent is *karshapana*. Theoretically it was the name of a coin of copper, silver, or gold weighing one *karsha* 16 *māshas*. But in the case of silver coins a *māsha* was equal to 2 *ratis* while in the case of copper coins it was calculated at 5 *ratis* each (the *rati* = 1.85 grains). According to Prof. Rapson the *karshapanas* of the Nānāghāṭ, Nāsik, and Kānheri inscriptions were silver coins; these weighed only about 36 grains, instead of 58 grains as would be theoretically required. *CIC*, pp. clxxvii-clxxxiv. The ratio between the silver and the gold coin was 35 silver *karshapanas* to 1 gold *suvarna*.