Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c28.s7.t2: Cast Coins
Minerals and Metals in Ancient India v1.c28.s7.t2
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Cast Coins
v1.c28.s7.t2.1
Cast Coins are those which used to be made from hot metal cast in moulds bearing the required impressions in negative. Sahni (1945) has made a classic study on the technique of casting coins as practised in Rohtak, Eran, Taxila, Mathurā etc. (*fig.* 20.1). His findings have been summarised by Mukherjee (1986, 1988).
v1.c28.s7.t2.2
The negative of the intended coin-type was engraved or etched on a blank mould made of heat-resisting plastic clay or on a mould in cast metal. If a coin was destined to carry devices on both faces, a second mould had to be prepared and an opening made through the rim of each of the moulds. Some cast coins found still joined together by a bar of metal indicate that these were cast in pairs.
v1.c28.s7.t2.3
Molten metal could be poured into different moulds separately, or which was more popular as in Sunet, it would be made to flow down through a vertical column communicating with the channels leading to the coin sockets of the moulds placed vertically.
v1.c28.s7.t2.4
The most elaborate of coin-casting has been revealed by the fragments of early Yaudheya coin moulds found at Khokrakot, near Rohtak (site dated around 100 BC). Each disc seems to have a hole in the centre, from which radiating channels run into eight coin-sockets arranged in a circle. The practice of producing cast coins in ancient India was gradually abandoned after third-fourth century AD. (Mukherjee 1988: 33)