AN ANNOTATED LIST OF BOOKS ON COINS PUBLISHED IN INDIA: 1960-1970.

Note: This list was compiled for the information and use of members of the Oriental Numi smat i c Society, It is believed to be re lat i vely complete for the decade, as of July 1, 1970, but omissions subsequently discovered and new books subsequent Iy pub I i shed will be brought to members' attent ion through the Soci ety's News I etter, Most of the books are s t i l l in print. Orders should be addressed to the publishers. All are paper bound unless otherw i se noted. ^ /

Biddulph C.H. COINS OF THE CHOLAS. Numismatic Notes and Monographs No.13, The Numismatic Society of India, Varanasi,1968. vi, 65pp., 5pls. Rs.lO

The best brief study available of ^holas coinage, and a sequel to the

author' s earlier monograph on the Pandyan coi nage. It covers the

history, including a chrono Iogi cal list of ChoI a rulers from cAD846

to C.1279; religion; and the coins: metrology, emblems, and general

observations on the gold, silver and copper issues^ A detailed list

includes commentary on the 64 coin types illustrated in the

excellent plates. The coins illustrated are from the author's

col Iect i on; the British Museum; the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge,

and the Government Museum, Madraso A brief appendix lists and

comments on nine published Chola coins not included in the plates.

Biddulph C.H. COINS OF THE PANDYAS. Numismatic Notes and Monographs No.II, The Numismatic Society of India, Varanasi,1966, 71pp., 6pls, Rs.lO.

Of the three Drav idi an groups impor tant in early Southern India, the

Pandyas, ChoI as and Cheras, the first were domi nant. This monograph

gives a concise account of the origin, Ianguages and religion of the

Pandyas, and the infIuence on them of the Aryans and other races with

whom they came in contact. It then gives the names and titles of

Pandyan kings appearing on their coins, and attempts to link them

with the known rulers. The author descr i bes the gold, silver and

copper coins, as well as those issued by the Pandyas in Ceylon. The

work cone Iudes with an annotated catalogue, i ncIud i ng provenance, of the

127 coins illustrated in the fairly clear plates. Three Pandyan

copper coins from Ceylon overstruck by the Ganga Banas and Kal inga

Gangas, and four poss i bI e prototypes for some early Pandyan coins are

includedo Two appendices give the names and titles of rulers in

English and Tamil, and a list of 13 Pandyan coins published elsewhere

and not included in the plates.

AN ANNOTATED LIST OF BOOKS ON CQINS PUBLISHED IN INDIA; 1960-1970 II

Chattopadhyay, Bhaskar. THE AGE OF THE KDSHAKAS - A NUMISMATIC STUDY. Pulished by Sri Sankar Bhattaoharya, Punthi Pustak, 34, Mohan Began Lane, Calcutta-^, 1967. x x x i i i , 289 PP., 5pl». R». 48. (Hard cover).

The author i s Lecturer in History at the University of Burdwan. This work was

originally prepared as a Ph.D. t h e s i s . University of Calcutta, 1966. In 10

chapters, i t discxisses early Kushan history, the development of Kushan coinage,

representations of kings and dei t ies on the coins, metrology, legends and symbols

provenance, and the Indian heritage of foreign numiasatic traditions.

Bibliography, script and symbol charts, key to plates , index, and 2 pages of

errata. The plates are repz^ïduoed ( i n reduced size) from Vol. I , Indian

Museum Catalogue. Grenerally a oorapendium drawn from earlier works, adding

l i t t l e .

Das &upta. Dr. Kalyan K\miar. THE AUDUMBARAS. Calcutta Sanskrit College Research series No. XLI7, Studies No. 26. Published by the Principal, Sanskrit College, 1, Bankim Chatterjee Street, Calcutta-12, I965. x v i i , 42 pp. , 5p l s . , map, Rs. 4* (Hard cover)

A brief study of one of the ancient independent tribal s ta tes of North India

drawing on traditional as well as sane l i t t l e used l i terary sources. I t takes

up the location, antiquity, and the origin or the name of the tr ibe; describes

the coins in three Classes of 4 , 3 and 11 variet ies respectively; seeks to

establish a general coin chronology; examines 9 symbols fo\md on the coin; and

gives brief notes on forejgn influence; p o l i t i c a l , religious and economic

conditions; and ethnology. An appendix describes two classes of coins attributed

to the Vemakas, a neighbouring tr ibe . Index. Select bibliography. The plates

show 20 coins enlarged to double s i z e , several worn specimens, but clearly

printed.

Das Gupta. Dr. Kalyan Kumar. THE MALAVAS. Calcutta Sanskrit College Research

Series No. L, Studies No. 29. Published by the Principal, Sanskrit College, 1, Bankim Chatterjee Street, Calcutta-12, I966, xvii, 36pp., 3 pis., map, Rs.7. (Hard cover).

This essay gives a brief account of the history and location of the North

Indian Malava Tribe, and classifies the coins into two groups with 2? varieties

in the first and 31 varieties divided into two classes inthe second. It

discusses devices and s nabols, general coin chronology, interpretation of coin

legends, metrology, and the economic and political conditions and ethnology of

the tribe. Index. Select bibliography. Addenda and Corrigenda. The plates

show 36 Indian Museum coins in poor reproduction but normal size.

AN ANNOTATED LIST OF BOOKS ON COINS PUBLISHED IN IHIHA t 1960-1970. Ill

Gopal, Lallanji. EARLT MEDIEVAL C0IN-TTPE3 OF NOTHERN INDIA. Numismatic Notes and Monographs No. 12. Published by the lumismatic Society of India, 7aranasi,1966. •» 81pp., 12 pis., Rs.15.

This work is divided into two parts, the first analysing the medieval North

Indian coin types, their origin, authorship and historical implications; the

second arranging the coin types in catalogue form by the issuing dynasties.

In Part I, the author notes four major tjrpes; king and fire altar (with some

sub-types), standing king and seated goddess, bull and horseman, and seated

goddess; and three minor types; Hanuman, lion attacking elephant, and cow

suckling calf. The dynasties in Part II include those of Kashmir, Ind»-Sassanian,

Gurjara-Pratiharas, Palas Jajapellas of 'Sarwa.T, Surasena, Ohind, Kalachuris,

Chandellas, Gavadavalas, Rashtrakutas of Badaun, Tadus of Bayana, Chahamanas, and

5 miscellaneous uncertain types. The generally clear plates illustrate 169

coins. A very useful reference for a difficult period,

Gupta, Parmeshwari Lai. THE AMARAVATI HOARD OP SILVER PUNCH-MARKED COINS. Andhra Pradesh Government Museum Series No, 6, Published by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, 1963, iii, 188 pp., 31 pis. Rs. 25.

This is an analysis of a hoard of 7,668 punch-marked coins found in 1953 at

Amaravati, a Satavahana capital in Andhra Pradesh. The author finds 302

varieties of obverse symbols arranged in 235 different types of groupings.

Of these 74 groups are previously unpublished, and 48 are known only from this

hoard. The hoard contains 15 misstruck "freaks" which appear to show that coins

with different sets of symbols were issued from the same mint, 96 restruck coins

and one cast "punch-marked" coin. The symbols are illustrated in the first three

plates and their groupings are shown in the text. The remaining plates show

obverse and reverse of 1,048 coins,

Gupta, Parmeshwari Lai, COINS (No. 29 in the Series "India-The Land and People,") Published by the Secretary, National Book Trust, India, New Delhi-16, 1969, xi, 241 pp., 34 pis. Rs.9.50 (Hard cover).

The best general overview of Indian coinage since C.J. Brown's The Coins of India

was published in 1922. Designed for the general reader, it is packed with

factual detail - and some dubious assumptions (e.g. "it may reasonably be claimed

that the coins originated in India at least a century before Lyüia of China

thou^t of them,") Separate shapters deal with the beginning of coins, early

Indian coins, coins of foreign invaders, Kushanas and their successors, post-

Maurjran pre-Gupta, early south and west India, Guptas, Hunas and other dynasties,

post-Gupta north India, later south India, Muslim dynasties of Delhi, Muslim

states of north and south India, Mughals, Hindu rulers of the Muslim period,

successors of the Hu^ials, Indo-European, native states, and Indian Republic,

A brief bibliography is given for each chapter. The plates illustrate 366 coin

types, with a brief description of each in an accompanying catalogue.

AK AWTQTATBD LIST OF BOOKS ON COINS PCBLISH^ IN INDIA; 1960-1970 17

&upta, Paimeshwari Lal. PUNCH-MARKED COINS IN THE ANDHRA PRADESH GOVEilNMENT MUSEUM. Andhra Pradesh Sovemment Museum Ser ies No. 1, Published by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, I96I , v i i i , 135 p p . , 9 p l s . Rs. 5 .

This monograph catalogues 751 punch-marked coins in the Hyderabad Museun

ool leot ion , analysing them by find s i t e s (fotir hoards and two excavations) a l l

in former Hyderabad S t a t e . The coins show 9I v a r i e t i e s of obverse symbol

groups, of which nine were previously unknown. All but the smallest (8 ' coins)

of t h e hoards contain pre^auryan and Hauryan coins together , and the presence

of a large nximber from Taxila indica tes "brisk t rade re la t ions" with the

northwest. A to t a l of 133 obverse symbols and 10 reverse sjrmbols are

described in text and two p l a t e s , and the coins are analysed by symbol groups.

In four appoidices, they are catalogued by find s i t e , v a r i e t i e s , reverse marks,

and weights. Two f inal chapters describe 12 s t ray coins in the Musexim and

some t e r r aco t t a moulds used for cast ing "punch-marked" coins. The seven

photographic plates sire poorly reproduced, but show 195 coins and 30 mould

f ra^nents . •

Gupta, Parmeshwari Lai, ROMAN COINS FROM ANDHRA PRADESH. Andhra Pradesh Government Museum Series No. 10. Published by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, I965. i v , 130 p p . , 26 p i s . Rs.lif,

In a f i e l d of numismatic study long neglected by Indian andVestem c l a s s i ca l

scholars a l i k e , t h i s i s the f i r s t ser ious attempt to analyse the coins which

flooded in to India from Rome during the Imperial period. Dr. Gupta f i r s t gives

a concise his tory of Indo-Roman t rade r e l a t i o n s , and then presents a 30-page

descript ion of Roman coinage designed primari ly as an introduction for Indian

students unfamiliar with Roman numismatics (much of i t l i f t e d verbatim from

Seaby's Roman Coins and t h e i r Values) « He l i s t s 62 recorded finds of Roman

coins from a l l over the s\ibcontinent, and attempts to assess the generally

inadequate record of t h e i r content to show how trade f luctuated in time and

shif ted ±0 various Indian a reas . Of the 62 f inds , 17 located in Andhra Pradesh,

are studied in more d e t a i l . The coins described are f tequai t ly defaced with

outs and punch-marks or cut into fragments, and many contemporary imitat ions

have been found. Two hoards of 1531 and 39 ooins are tabulated by s i ze , weight

and countermarks in the appendices, and 531 are i l l u s t r a t e d in the p l a t e s .

The publicat ion i s replete with typographical e r r o r s , the p la tes are generally

too dia to be read, the coins described are not keyed to Cohen or other

standard wozics, and the ooins in the tabulat ions and p la tes are not indent i f ied

by Emperor. Nevertheless, Dr. Gupta's ana lys i s «aid conclusions make an

i n t e r e s t i ng and useful contribution to the study of ear ly East -^est r e l a t i o n s .

AN AMOTATED LIST OF BOOKS OK COINS PÜBLISHBP IN INDIA: 1960-1970. V

Huflsain, U.K. CATALOGUE OP COINS OF THE MÜ&HAL EMPEHORS. Published by the Direotorate of Archives and Archaeology, Maharashtra State, Bombay, I968. z , 20JfPP., 10 p i s . Rs. 12 (Hardcover).

The author, nuaismatist of the Maharashtra ^haeology Department, has ccsnpiled

a catalogue of 1044 coins of 18 Emperors from Akbsu? to Muhammad Akbar I I . The

coins are from the accumulations accruing to the department under Indian

treasure trove laws. The tabulations show metal, mint, date, weight, s i z e , and

inscriptions, byt S3^bols are omitted. References are frequently given to the

same coins in other standard catalogues. There i s no analysis of the coins,

and, as the author says in the Preface, "No attempt has been made to solve the

more obscure nvmiismatic problems". Some British East India Company issues are

mistakenly attributed to Alamgir II and Shah Alam I I . Nine gold but no copper

ooljtis are included. Excellent plates show I63 coins.

Krishan, Bal. ANCIENT INDIAN COINAI , A Select Bibliography. Published by Shri Ram Swarup Sharma, Director, The Research Inst itute of Ancient Scient i f ic Studies, 26/139-1W) West Patel Nagar, New Delhi-8, I968. 55 pp. Rs, 15.

This small volume i s a compilation of the bibliograi^ic material which the

author provided for COINAGE IN ANCIENT INDIA by Prakash and Singh (q .v . ) with

a few general references added. In i«0 pages, i t l i s t s 194 ar t i c l e s , catalogues

and books with very brief annotations covering punch-marked and tr ibal , Indo-

G-reeks, Sakas, Pahlavas, Kushanas, Nagas, Kshatrapas, G'Uptas, Huns, Vardhanas,

Rajputs, Kashmir, seven Kingdoms of the Deccan (Satavahanas, Ikshvakus,

Kalaohuries, Vishnukundins, Chalukyas, Yadavas and Kakatiyas), and f ive kingdoms

of South India (Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, Kadambas, and Vi jayanagar) . With

the exception of the British and Punjab Museum catalogues, i t ignores most

material published outside India, Also, i t i s marred by numarous typographical

errors and by the lack of any definition of the abbreviations used in references.

An a r t i c l e , "Ancient Coinage in India " by Bal Krishan and G.D. Khullar, giving

a 13 page overview, i s appended. The author i s Librarian, NationELL Museum,

New Delhi.

AIJ AIT> OTATED LI3T OF BOOKS OU C0IN3 PUBLI3i:CD IN IIDIA; 1960-1970. VI

L a h i r i , A.N. COR-'TTS OF INDO-SRS '.K CODE'S. Publ ished by Poddar P u b l i c a t i o n s , 34, Raja Santoah Road, C a l c u t t a - 2 7 , 1965. x v i i , 290 p p . , 54 p i s . Rs . 105 . (Hard c o v e r ) .

A u se fu l and c a r e f u l l y arranged compila t ion of most of the p rev ious rese-arch

in t h e Indo-G-reek f i e l d , t h i s s c h o l a r l y work i s d iv ided i n t o threw p a r t s :

I n t r o d u c t i o n , Catalogue, and Appendices. The 68-page I n t r o d u c t i o n p rov ides

a c r i t i c a l assessment of e a r l i e r s t u d i e s and of a r t , metrology, d e v i c e s ,

s p e c i a l i s s u e s , l egends , monograms, modem f o r g e r i e s , and a n c i o i t i m i t a t i o n s .

I t d i s c u s s e s but makes no at tempt t o so lve problems of chronology and monogram

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . The Catalogue l i s t s 42 r u l e r s a l p h a b e t i c a l l y , g iv ing t h e coin

t;/pes of each wi th r e fe rences t o known examples. The f i v e appendices ( 7 4 pages)

i n c l u d e a l i s t of obverse and r e v e r s e types showing the k ings t o which thev a re

a t t r i b u t e d , an i l l u s t r a t e d l i s t of 441 Greek-type monograms and seven I n d i a n -

type symbols with re fe rences t o the coins on which t h e / appear , a l i s t by kings

of t h e monograms each used and the monogram<-links to coins of o the r r u l e r s , an

annota ted l i s t of t i t l e s and e p i t h e t s , and a d iscuss ion of 10 probable casss of

t h e same name used by more than one k i n g . Se l ec t b i b l i o g r a p h y and d e t a i l e d

index. The p l a t e s i l l u s t r a t e 404 coin t y p e s . The author i s L e c t u r e r in Ancient

Ind ian H i s t o r y and C u l t u r e , U n i v e r s i t y of C a l c u t t a ,

Mehta V a s i s h t h a , Dev. Mohan. THE INDO-GKBEK COINS. Publ ished by t h e Indo log ioa l Research I n s t i t u t e , Ludhlana, 1967. x v i , 196 p p . , 7 p i s , ( P r i c e unknown)

Not examined. "This handy volime con ta ins xiseful ma t e r i a l on Indo-Sreek

c o i n s . " (Ba l Krishan)

Ilohan Das, P.11. GOIL'J OF INDIA THROUGH TH*-] AGKS. Published by the Governnent Kusexi:n Madras, I960, 17 pp., 3 pls, 40 paise.

This booklet traces the history of Indian coinage in 19 brief sections, from

punch-marked purtnas to issues of the East India Compaiy, ind describes in text

and plates 32 coin types from bent-bar to the 'ralf star pagoda. Written by th»

Curator of the Ihunismatic Section of the .'iuseum, it is intenrled to accompany a

boxed set of 3? cast replicas offered for sale (RS. 78.69) by thf I;\iseum to

educational institutions as a study guide.

M . T? OTATSD LIST OF B0CK3 OIT COINS PUBLiai:JD IN IIDIA; 1960-1970. VI

Lahir i , A.N. COR-'US OF DIDO-SRS-'K CO TOS. Published by Podiar Publ icat ions , 54, Raja Santosh Road, Calcutta-27, I965. x v i i , 29O pp . , 54 p i s . Rs, 105. (Hard cover) .

A useful and carefully arranged compilation of most of the previous research

in the Indo-Greek f i e ld , th i s scholarly work i s divided into three p a r t s :

Introduct ion, Catalogue, and Appendices, The 68-page Introduction provides

a c r i t i c a l assessment of e a r l i e r s tudies and of a r t , metrology, devices,

special i s sues , legends, monograms, modem forger ies , and anciai t imi ta t ions .

I t discusses but makes no attempt to solve problems of chronology and monogram

in te rp re ta t ion . The Catalogue l i s t s 42 ru le rs a lphabet ical ly , giving the coin

t ; ^es of each with references to known examples. The five appendices (74 pages)

include a l i s t of obverse and reverse types showing the kings to which thev are

a t t r i bu t ed , an i l l u s t r a t e d l i s t of 441 G-reek-type monograms and seven Indian-

type symbols with references to the coins on which the/ appear, a l i s t by kings

of the monograms each used and the monograiB<-links to coins of other r u l e r s , an

annotated l i s t of t i t l e s and e p i t h e t s , and a discussion of 10 probable cases of

the same name used by more than one king. Select bibliography and deta i led

index. The p la tes i l l u s t r a t e 24O4 coin types . The author i s Lecturer in Ancient

Indian History and Culture, Universi ty of Calcut ta .

Mehta Vasishtha, Dev. Mohan. THE INDO-GBEEK COINS. Published by the Indologioal Research I n s t i t u t e , Ludhlana, I967. xv i , I96 pp . , 7 p i s , (Pr ice unknown)

Not examined. "This handy volime contains useful material on Indo-Sreek

coins." (Bal Krishan)

I'lohnn Das, P.N. GOII.'.'J OF INDIA THROUGH TRK AGKS. i^ublished by the Governnent Fuseiun Madras, I960, 1? pp., 3 pis, 40 priise.

This booklet traces the history of Indian coinage in 19 brief sections, from

punch-marked purt'naa to issues of the East India Company, ind describes in text

and plates 32 coin tjrpes from bent-bar to the half star pngoda. Written by th^

Curator of the r;iunismatic Section of the '.useiun, it is intemled to accompany a

boxed set of 32 cast replicas offered for sale (RS, 78,69) by thf Iluseum to

educational institutions as a study guide.

M ANNOTATED LIST OF BOOKS ON COINS PUBLISHED IN INDIA; 1960-1970 VII

Hukherjee, Dr. B.N. NANA OS LION, A Study in Euahana Numismatic Art. Published by the General Secretary, The Asiatic Society. 1, Park Street, Calcutta(-16, 1969. xiii, 159 pp., 15 pis. Rs, 35. (lard cover)

This is an Iconographic study of the Babylonian (Sumerian) goddess Nana as she

appears sitting on a lion on the coins of the Eushanas, designed to contribute

to an understanding of the role of Kushan coinage in the evolution of Indian

plastic art and religious iconography. The ntanismatio point of departure is

the unique gold stater of Kanishka published by M.F.C. Martin in the Nxunismatic

Supplement (of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal) XLIV, 1931-53»

p. 8-9» from the Singhi Collection, Calcutta. But the author covers the

representations of Nana and related deities on other coins, éeals and statues,

and gives attention to devices, style and technique, and rulers, artists and

environment. He concludes that Nana on Lion "made a distinct constrlbution to

the development of the iconographic concepts of the Devi" (e.g., in one of her

forms as Durga on Lion). He amplifies the study in six appendices dealing

with a prototype of a Eushan obverse design, the deity of Pushkalavati, the

influence of Indo-Roman trade on the Eushan conquest of India, and the repre­

sentation of deities on three different archeologlcal finds. Catalogues of

the plates, select bibliography, and index» The clearly reproduced plates show

33 coins, 17 statues, 6 seals and 2 silver dishes.

Nayar, T, Balakrishnan. THE DOWLAISHWERAM HOARD OP EASTERN CHALDEYAN AND CHOLA COINS.

Bulletin of the Madras Grovemment Museum, Madras, 1966. 42, iv pp., 7 pis., map. Hs, 4.80,

This is an analysis of 127 gold coins, tiie recovered portion of a larger hoard

found in 1946 in a village of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, of idiioh

49 are attributed to Rajaraja I (1019-1059 A.D.) of the Eastern Chalukyan dynasty

and 78 to Eulottunga I (1071-1120 A.D.) of the Chola dynasty . The importance of

the hoard lies in the fact that it is the first discovexyof coins of Eulottunga I

of similar weight and fabric to those of his father, Rajaraja I. The coins and

their inscriptions and devices are fully described in. a aeries of tables. The

plates ahotr characteristic< coins, enlarged drawings of their central devices and

of related seals..

AN AMOTATED LIST OF BOOKS OH COINS PUBLISHED IN IHDIAt 1960-1970 VIII

* Vali Khan, Muhammad Abdul. BAHT'ANI COINS IN THE AKDHRA PRADSSH GOVERNMENT MUSSUM, HYDERABAD, Andhra Pradesh Government Museum Series No. 7, Published by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, 1964. 1 pi., xv, 183 PP.,. 35 pls. Rs,18,

The Hsrderabad Iiuseum holds some 5,000 coins issued by 15 of the 18 Bahmani kings

of the Deccan, including 10 gold, 270 silver and the rest of copper. This work

catalogues all of the gold and silver and 502 copper to illustrate representative

types. An introductory note includes references to published types not in the

Museu?- collection. The catalogue is preceded by an historical survey (1345-1527)

of the dynasty. The list of coins gives metal, mint, date, weight, size,

provenance when known, and the inscription as it ap^oears on the coin and

transliterated. The inscriptions are also reproduced by king and coin type at the

end. On successive plates, 299 coins are shown first in photographs, which are not

always legible, and then in ink rubbings, which are generally clear. An initial

plate shows two examples of Bahmani architecture, and a ter^iinal plate shous two

copper containers in which hoards of the silver coins were found,

Gupta, Parmeshwari Lai, COIN HOARDS FROM GUJARAT STATE, Numismatic Notes and Monographs No. 15, Published by the Numismatic Society of India, Varanasi, 1969. 3, 24pp. Rs.3.

This booklet lists 126 coin hoards found in Gujarat between 1848 and 1959 and 13

in Sind between 1856 and 1918. Mughal coins predominate (found in 36 of the hoards)

followed by the Sultans of Gujarat (20), Gupta (18) Vestem Kahatrapas (15), and

Gadhiya and the Sultans of Delhi (l2 each). One hoard included "a few" Armenian

silver coins and two included Venetian gold coins. Details of most of the finds

are incomplete, and in a preface the author explains the difficulties he faced:

no treasure trove law prior to 1878, no records of finds examined by the Bombay

Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (designated recipient for all hoards found in

the Bombay Presidency area until 1922), and only vcanty records by the Prince of

Vales Museum, Bombay, from 1922 onxrards. The author compiled the list from such i

records and other publications of finds (listed idiere available) while he was

Numismatist at that Huseiui from 1954 to 1963* The booklet is marred by

typographical errors (e.g.. Hoard y^ 19 was found in •'1989''), but the Western

India provenance evidence it does contain for coins f^mtpunchmarks to Victoria

and Native States is of value.

AS AJPIOTATSD LIST OF BOOKS ON COINS POBUSHBD IN INDIA; 1960-1970 IX

Maity» Saehindra Eumar. EARLY INDIAN COINS AND CURRENCY SYSTEM. Published by Kunshiram Hanoharlal, 54 Rani Jhanso Road, New Delhi-35t 1970. zii, 136 pp. Rs.20. (Hard cover).

The author advocates the concept that the chronology of early Indian

dynasties can be fixed by the application of Qresham's Lav to the

declining gold content of ttieir coins. He supports this idea with analytical

tables covering tiie gold issues of the Eushan,Sa8sanian, Gupta, Tomara,

Oahadavala, Ealachuri and Chandella èyn&BtieB. This thesis is preceded by

general chapters on the role of numismatics in the study of Indian political,

administrative, migratory, religious, ecoiiofflic and cvilt\iral history; and on

the exchange systems and metrology in use in the Indus Valley, Vedic, Kauryan,

Indo-Greek, Eushan, Gupta, post-Gupta and early medieval periods. /In essaj

on the culture of the Guptas as deduced from their coins is added as an

appendix, followed by an 11 page bibliography and comprehensive index. No

plates. The author ibeaches ancient Indian history at Jadavpur University,

Calcutta.

Mohan, Mehta 7asishtha Dev. THE INDO-GREEE COINS. Published by the Indological Research Institute, 482-R Model Town, Ludhiana, 1967. xvi, 196pp, 7 pis. Rs. 32. (Hard cover).

This book attempts a re-interpretation of the Indo-Greek period by a new

look at the results of eeurlier numismatic xesearch in the li^t of recent finds

and of a close correlation of ''near-contemporary Indian literature". It

starts with two (among other) basic assumptions;

(l) that "the attempts of Rapson, Hacdonald, Tarn and others'* were "coloured

with anxiety to glorify the Gre^...., putting the Indian in an unfavourable

light," and (s) that "all Indo-Greek currency consisted of oast coins," the

ignorance of idiich fact led earlier scholars "to hasty and fantastic conclusions

concerning re-strikes. Among Dr. Mohan's interesting conclusions: The Greeks

used Kharoshthi in preference to Brahmi for the same reason the British preferred

the Persian script over "the descendants of the Brahmi script" — "in defiance

of ttie popular sentiments." He divides the deities on the coins into City and

Family types» providing "clues to locate the mint city" and associating the ruler

with "one or the other of the two feuding Indo-Greek ruling families." He

claims minting was done by contracting firms whose monograms, like trademarks,

were inherited in some cases. In conclusion, he attempts a "fresh reconstruction

of Euthydemid genealogy" and the "House of Eukratides." An appendix explains

Greek deities to Indian students, and a bibliography lists 81 references. The

plates illustrate 46 coins and 143 monograms. The author heads the Department

of Sanskrit, QoTsnutent Co|.lege, Ludhiana.