History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c14.s2.1

v1.c14.s2.1

The apprehension of loosing matrices or of failure to ensure sharpness in devices on coins did not apparently plague the producers of a few classes of coins of thin fabric and light weight (Altekar and Mukhejee, 1982, p. 1387). These pieces bear devices on one side only, the other side carrying only their negative impressions. Apparently the thin flan of such a coin was placed on a piece of stone or metal displaying the positive impression of the device concerned either in high relief or in a sunken state. Then the thin blank was carefully hammered to receive on one of its sides the positive impression of the device either in relief or as incised (depending on the manner in which it appeared on the matrix). Consequently the other side of the thin flan got intagliated or raised traces of the device in negative. This process of transferring impression from a matrix to a piece of metal, popularly know as the repoussé technique, allows production of numerous coins from matrix and ensures good impression of the matrix-device on coins. But the repoussé technique not only involves a laborious and time consuming process, but also does not allow impressions of two distinct devices on two sides (obverse and reverse).