The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c17.s2.t4: Introduction
The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v2.c17.s2.t4
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Introduction
v2.c17.s2.t4.1
Little is known so far about the post-Sātavāhana coinage of the Deccan. The coins available for study are few in number, and those among them which are inscribed are very much fewer. Types do not help us very much. The Varāha, Padma, and Bull types persisted for many centuries. The Varāha type, for instance, was no doubt first introduced by the Chālukyas, but it was continued by later dynasties as late as the time of Vijayanagar; thus we cannot assign all coins of this type to the Chālukya dynasty. The term Varāha became in the course of time a common synonym for gold currency in general. Pieces of this type must once have been issued in large quantities, but the Varāha coins now available for study are not many. It has been suggested that a fabulous number of them must have been included in the booty carried to Delhi from South India by Malik Kāfūr, leaving very few behind in their province of origin. This explanation does not carry conviction. U.P. was also occupied by the Muslims and yet quite a large number of gold Gupta coins have been found in that State.
v2.c17.s2.t4.2
There was hardly any silver coinage in Southern India. Nārada no doubt does say, as pointed out above, that silver *kārshāpaṇas* were common in the south, but the archaeological evidence does not support his assertion. Silver bullion or coins are rarely mentioned in connexion with the booty collected by Malik Kāfūr in the Deccan. The dynasties of the Deccan dealt with in this volume rarely issued silver currency. Copper currency of the Deccan of this period is also very scarce.