History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c14.s1.15

v1.c14.s1.15

These holes formed a hollow shaft. Molten metal poured down through it, with the help of a funnel-like opening at the top, would run by means of the radiating canals of each pair of discs into the cavities of coin sockets. B. Sahni is of the opinion that casting was done when the pile of moulds was still hot. The pile was probably enclosed in a furnace into which wind was passed with the help of a bellow, and the molten metal was probably poured in the manner described here. When the pile cooled down after the operation, it was broken up and coins were then taken out and cleared.