Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c15.127

c15.127

It is interesting to note that Mr. Durga Prasad of Benares (whose recent death is a great loss to Indian Numismatics), who had specialised in the study of punchmarked silver coins and handled thousands of them so far discovered, ascertained that 39 silver coins which were found in the earliest layers at Taxila weighed 100 *rattis* each=180 grains. These coins cannot be taken to be the double Persian *sigloi* mentioned below, for the Persian *sigloi* weighed not more than 36.45 grains and a double weighed 172.9 grains. They, therefore, are to be taken as indigenous coins called aptly *Satamāna* coins in our texts. It may be further assumed that weights of these coins followed a decimal system. The *Śatamānas* had their *Pādas* which may also be identified with certain broad pieces punched with 4 symbols and weighing 25 *rattis* or 1/4 of *Śatamanas*.