Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Notes:

Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_
in the original text.
Equal signs “=” before AND after a word or phrase indicate =bold=
in the original text.
Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals.
Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs.
Deprecated spellings have been preserved.
Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected.

THE HERITAGE OF INDIA SERIES

_Joint_ { The Right Reverend V. S. AZARIAH, Bishop of Dornakal.
_Editors_ { J. N. FARQUHAR, M.A., D.Litt. (Oxon.).

_Already published._
The Heart of Buddhism. K. J. SAUNDERS, M.A.
Asoka. J. M. MACPHAIL, M.A., M.D.
Indian Painting. PRINCIPAL PERCY BROWN, Calcutta.
Kanarese Literature, 2nd ed. E. P. RICE, B.A.
The Sāṁkhya System. A. BERRIEDALE KEITH, D.C.L., D.Litt.
Psalms of Marāṭhā Saints. NICOL MACNICOL, M.A., D.Litt.
A History of Hindī Literature. F. E. KEAY, M.A., D.Litt.
The Karma-Mīmāṁsā. A. BERRIEDALE KEITH, D.C.L., D.Litt.
Hymns of the Tamil Śaivite Saints. F. KINGSBURY, B.A.,
and G. E. PHILLIPS, M.A.
Rabindranath Tagore. E. J. THOMPSON, B.A., M.C.
Hymns from the Rigveda. A. A. MACDONELL, M.A., Ph.D., Hon. LL.D.
Gotama Buddha. K. J. SAUNDERS, M.A.

_Subjects proposed and volumes under preparation._

SANSKRIT AND PALI LITERATURE.
Anthology of Mahāyāna Literature.
Selections from the Upanishads.
Scenes from the Rāmāyaṇa.
Selections from the Mahābhārata.

THE PHILOSOPHIES.
An Introduction to Hindu Philosophy. J. N. FARQUHAR
and PRINCIPAL JOHN MCKENZIE, Bombay.
The Philosophy of the Upanishads.
Śaṅkara’s Vedānta. A. K. SHARMA, M.A., Patiāla.
Rāmānuja’s Vedānta.
The Buddhist System.

FINE ART AND MUSIC.
Indian Architecture. R. L. EWING, B.A., Madras.
Indian Sculpture.
The Minor Arts. PRINCIPAL PERCY BROWN, Calcutta.
Burmese Art and Artistic Crafts. PRINCIPAL MORRIS,
Insein, Burma.

BIOGRAPHIES OF EMINENT INDIANS.
Rāmānuja.
Akbar. F. V. SLACK, M.A., Calcutta.
Tulsī Dās.

VERNACULAR LITERATURE.

The Kurral. H. A. POPLEY, B.A., Madras, and K. T. PAUL, B.A.,
Calcutta.
Hymns of the Āḷvārs. J. S. M. HOOPER, M.A., Nagari.
Tulsī Dās’s Rāmāyaṇa in Miniature. G. J. DANN, M.A., (Oxon.),
Patna.
Hymns of Bengali Singers. E. J. THOMPSON, B.A., M.C., Bankura.
Kanarese Hymns. MISS BUTLER, B.A., Bangalore.

HISTORIES OF VERNACULAR LITERATURE.
Bengali. C. S. PATERSON, M.A., Calcutta.
Gujarātī.
Marāthī. NICOL MACNICOL, M.A., D.Litt., Poona.
Tamil.
Telugu. P. CHENCHIAH, M.A., Madras, and RAJA BHUJANGA RAO,
Ellore.
Malayālam. T. K. JOSEPH, B.A., L.T., Trivandrum.
Urdū. B. GHOSHAL, M.A., Bhopal.
Burmese. PROF. TUNG PE, Rangoon.
Sinhalese.

NOTABLE INDIAN PEOPLES.
The Rājpūts.
The Syrian Christians. K. C. MAMMEN MAPILLAI, Alleppey.
The Sikhs.

VARIOUS.
Modern Folk Tales. W. NORMAN BROWN, M.A., Ph.D., Philadelphia.
Indian Village Government.
Poems by Indian Women. MRS. N. MACNICOL.
Classical Sanskrit Literature.
Indian Temple Legends. K. T. PAUL, B.A., Calcutta.
Indian Astronomy and Chronology. DEWAN BAHADUR L. D.
SWAMIKANNU PILLAI, Madras.
The Languages of India. PROF. R. L. TURNER, London.

EDITORIAL PREFACE

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honourable, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

No section of the population of India can afford to neglect her ancient heritage. In her literature, philosophy, art, and regulated life there is much that is worthless, much also that is distinctly unhealthy; yet the treasures of knowledge, wisdom, and beauty which they contain are too precious to be lost. Every citizen of India needs to use them, if he is to be a cultured modern Indian. This is as true of the Christian, the Muslim, the Zoroastrian as of the Hindu. But, while the heritage of India has been largely explored by scholars, and the results of their toil are laid out for us in their books, they cannot be said to be really available for the ordinary man. The volumes are in most cases expensive, and are often technical and difficult. Hence this series of cheap books has been planned by a group of Christian men, in order that every educated Indian, whether rich or poor, may be able to find his way into the treasures of India’s past. Many Europeans, both in India and elsewhere, will doubtless be glad to use the series.

The utmost care is being taken by the General Editors in selecting writers, and in passing manuscripts for the press. To every book two tests are rigidly applied: everything must be scholarly, and everything must be sympathetic. The purpose is to bring the best out of the ancient treasuries, so that it may be known, enjoyed, and used.

THE HERITAGE OF INDIA SERIES

THE COINS OF INDIA

BY C. J. BROWN, M.A.

READER IN ENGLISH LITERATURE, LUCKNOW UNIVERSITY;
MEMBER OF THE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY OF INDIA.

With Twelve Plates

“Time, which antiquates antiquities, and hath an art to make
dust of all things, hath yet spared these minor monuments.”
—SIR THOMAS BROWNE, _Hydriotaphia_.

ASSOCIATION PRESS
(Y.M.C.A.)
5, RUSSELL STREET, CALCUTTA

LONDON: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
NEW YORK, TORONTO, MELBOURNE,
BOMBAY, CALCUTTA AND MADRAS

1922

_The Right of Translation is Reserved._

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE
INTRODUCTION 7
ABBREVIATIONS 11
I. THE EARLIEST COINAGE OF INDIA 13
II. COINS OF THE INDO-GREEKS, THE ŚAKAS AND PAHLAVAS 22
III. COINS OF THE KUSHĀṆA KINGS 33
IV. THE COINAGE OF THE GUPTAS 40
V. THE MEDIÆVAL COINAGES OF NORTHERN AND CENTRAL
INDIA TILL THE MUHAMMADAN CONQUEST 50
VI. THE COINAGE OF SOUTHERN INDIA 56
VII. THE MUHAMMADAN DYNASTIES OF DEHLĪ 67
VIII. THE COINAGES OF THE MUHAMMADAN STATES 78
IX. COINS OF THE SŪRIS AND THE MUGHALS 89
X. CONTEMPORARIES AND SUCCESSORS OF THE MUGHALS 100
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 110
PRINCIPAL COLLECTIONS OF INDIAN COINS 112
INDEX 113

LIST OF PLATES

PLATE NEAR PAGE
I. EARLIEST COINS OF INDIA 20
II. COINAGE OF THE INDO-GREEKS, ETC. 21
III. COINAGE OF THE INDO-SCYTHIANS, ETC. 30
IV. KUSHĀṆA COINS 31
V. COINAGE OF THE GUPTAS 38
VI. MEDIÆVAL COINAGE OF NORTHERN INDIA 39
VII. SOUTH INDIAN COINS 48
VIII. COINS OF THE SULTANS OF DEHLĪ 49
IX. COINS OF MUHAMMADAN STATES 54
X. SŪRI AND MUGHAL COINS 55
XI. MUGHAL COINS 64
XII. COINS OF POST MUGHAL DYNASTIES, ETC. 65

_The Key to each Plate will be found on the page facing it._