Chandragupta Maurya and His Times c15.152

c15.152

It is difficult to comprehend fully the meaning of these symbols and punch-marks. That they have a meaning is indicated by Buddhaghosa who mentions in the *Samantapāsādika* the ancient numismatic treatise known as *Rūpasutta* as stating how a moneyer (*Heraññako*) could spot the village, the *nigama* or the *nagara*, and even the mint where a coin was manufactured, in the light of its marks, and whether it was ‘on a hill or on the bank of a river’ (*nadītīre vā*) [*Buddhistic studies*, p. 432]. These puzzling punch-marks Buddhaghosa describes as *chitta-vichitta*, “of various designs and forms” [*Ib.*]. The mother of the boy Upāli was full of fears that his eyes would be spoilt, if he chose the profession of a shroff [*Mahāvagga*, SBE, xiii. 201, f]. Indeed, all eyes would suffer to this day if applied to find out the meaning of the bewildering punch-marks borne by these ancient Indian coins to which the key is lost in the absence of the old *Rūpasuttas*!