Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c26.s4.9

v1.c26.s4.9

Another inscribed brass urn of the same date as the former has been discovered in a tope about 30 miles west of Kabul in the district of Wardak. This urn which in shape and size approaches closely the ordinary water-vessels in use in India to this day, was originally thickly gilt and its surface has in consequence remained well-preserved. (Princep’s Indian Antiquities edited by Thomas, Vol. 1, p. 162 quoted by Neogi, 1917, 1979: 40) As regards coins, both brass and bronze were used in ancient India for coinage. Circular punch-marked brass coins of Dhanadeva and Āryavarmā of Ayodhyā (circa 1st century BC) have been found. Brass coins of kings of several other dynasties living at that time have also been collected (vide Vincent Smith’s Catalogue of Coins in Indian Museum). From these arachaeological and numismatic evidence it is clear that brass was in common use in ancient India during the first century BC. A small number of die-struck coins of the Pre-Gupta and Gupta period, including a piece attributed to Candragupta II, are considered to be made of brass.