History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c14.10

v1.c14.10

Kauṭilya recommended minting of silver and copper coins. According to him, the Lakṣaṇādhyakṣa (i.e. mint-master) should manufacture ‘silver’ coins with one-fourth part copper and a māṣa of supporting material (vīja) (i.e. hardening alloy) consisting of iron, tin, lead or antimony⁴.