An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c8.s1.t4.1

v1.c8.s1.t4.1

The early moneyers adopted the indigenous weight system, the unit being *rati*, *raktika* or *kṛṣṇala*, the scarlet or black seed of the Indian liquorice or weather-plant, the weight of which was eventually standardized as 0·12 g. The silver punch-marked coins were struck to an original weight standard of the silver *dharaṇa* of 32 *ratis* or 3·564 g and its submultiples, while early coppers were based on the copper *kārṣāpaṇa* of 80 *ratis* or 9·460 g and its sub-multiples. The Indo-Greeks followed the Attic weight standard for their silver, which is known in three denominations—tetradrachm (17·106 g), drachm (4·276 g), which is just half in weight of the 8·553 g gold stater, and obol (1/6 of drachm, 0·712 g). The Greek copper unit was the chalkon, which was equal in weight to a drachm. In value eight such chalkons were equal to an obol and 48 of them to a drachm. The Kushan gold *dīnāra* was approximately of the same size and weight as the Roman gold *aureus* of the time of Augustus (23 b.c. to a.d. 14) and were struck at the weight standard of 8·0 g. The Kushans maintained their *dīnāras* at constant weight but in course of time slightly debased the quality of gold. Due to a certain degree of inflation in their economy the real value of the various denominations seems to have decreased and the gold coinage was debased and the copper denominations progressively reduced in weight to keep par with the economic deve-lopments. The large coppers of Wima Kadphises were struck at the Attic weight standard tetradrachm of 17 g, half of this denomination was struck at the didrachm weight standard of 8 g or perhaps a little more and the quarter on a standard of drachm of about 4 g Kaniṣka continued the copper denominations of his predecessor and retained the weight standard, adding yet a smaller fraction of his own—hemidrachm. Huviṣka's coppers do not fall into any clear pattern. Coins of Vāsudeva fall between 7 and 10 g. The first two Gupta rulers followed the weight standard of 7·840 g for their gold but Candra-gupta II issued in three different weight standards of 7·840, 8·035 and 8·229 g. Kumāragupta I issued more in 8·229 g and less in 7·840 g. Skandagupta abandoned all these and first issued at 8·553 g and later adopted the Indian *suvarṇa* weight standard and issued coins weighing between 9·200 and 9·395 g. The Gupta coins were known as *dīnāras*, but it is likely that the later coins were called *suvarṇas*. No submultiples like half or quarter *dīnāras* were issued. Their silver followed the W. Kṣatrapa standard of 1·944 g. It is difficult to detect any denominational scheme in the Gupta coppers. Of the post-Gupta series the Hūṇa coins were struck at 4·146 to 2·462 g with concentration between 3·564 and 3·304 g; the Indo-Sasanian coins were struck between 3·621 and 3·422 g; the Gadhaiya coins were struck between 4·794 and 3·514 g with concentration at 3·8 g; the Bull/Horseman coins were struck at 3·5, 3·2 and 3·0 g during different periods and the seated-goddess type was issued between 3·8 to 3·1 g. The E. Chalukya gold coins weighed between 4·406 to 4·211 g and their *fanams* weighed ·388 g. The W. Chalukyas issued their gold at 4·471 to 3·434 g, while their *fanams* weighed ·354 g and a quarter of a *fanam* ·064 g. The Coḻa gold and silver coins weighed between 4·406 and 3·368 g. The lesser denominations in silver weighed between 1·296 and ·842 g. Their coppers were struck at between 4·276 and 3·368 g. The lesser denominations in copper weighed between 1·036 and ·712 g. Some very tiny coins weighed ·064 g.