Copper in Ancient India c8.s4.1

c8.s4.1

The location of mints in which copper used to be coined would be of interest. The Ayeen Akbari says that gold coins were struck "first in the capital Agra, second Bengal, third Ahmedabad in Guzarat, and fourth in Kabul. Silver and copper besides being coined at the four above-mentioned places are also struck in ten other cities viz, Illhabad, Agra, Owjani, Surat, Dekhy, Patna, Cashmeer, Lahore, Multan and Tandah and only copper in the following 28 places viz., Ajmeer, Owedh, Attock, Allore, Badawar, Benares, Behkar Behret, Pulten, Jowhpoor, Jalundhar, Seharungpoor, Sarungpur, Sembehe, Kennaja, Rehutone, Herdewar, Hissar, Feerozeh, Calpee, Gualiar, Gorruckpur, Kelower, Lucknow, Mundow, Nagore, Sirhind, Secalhoote and Serownj.”¹ In Akbar’s time the price of one maund of copper was 1044 *dams* or *pysahs* (in value the fortieth part of a rupee) or about 24 rupees, and out of one maund of copper one seer was burnt out during minting and 1170 *dams* were coined.²