Ancient Indian Coinage: A Systematic Study of Money Economy from Janapada Period to Early Medieval Period (600 BC to AD 1200)Money is unmistakably a landmark invention - considering its indispensable role in economics and, more specially, in the commercial sphere of man's existence anywhere in the world. However, we have yet to have final answers to some of the fundamental questions: When, where, and how was money - shaped as 'coins' or as 'pieces of stamped metal' - first introduced to human civilization? Its genesis in India is traced back to the sixth century BC: during the second urban revolution, when coins came to be manufactured here independently, indigenously. Analysing in depth an astonishing mass of numismatic and kindred data, published in different catalogues, archaeological reports, journals and elsewhere, this book investigates the evolution of ancient India's economy: in terms of its 'coinage', through six successive periods: janapada, Maurya, post-Maurya, Gupta, post-Gupta, and pre-medieval - which, in their togetherness, span nearly two millennia. Covering the entire subcontinental sprawl, Dr. Jain considers the whole variety of coins: local, universal standard, and even foreign, with meticulous descriptions of coin types, symbols, legends, fabric and metrology. In her thematic effort to reconstruct the history of ancient Indian coinage (and, thus, money economy), from its first beginnings in high antiquity to about the twelfth century AD, the author has drawn on wide-ranging primary and secondary sources. And has also tried to establish linkages between the different ancient coins and their references/descriptions in Vedic/Buddhist/Jaina texts, Panini's Astadhyayi, Kautilya's Arthasastra, epical literature, Dharmasastras, foreigners' travelogues, old-world mathematical treatises, and numerous contemporary inscriptions, among others writings. |
Contents
Meaning and Evolution of Money | 1 |
Research Methodology | 27 |
Money Economy During Janapada Period | 65 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
Ancient Indian Coinage: A Systematic Study of Money Economy from Janapada ... Rekha Jain No preview available - 1995 |
Common terms and phrases
80 rattis ancient India Ancient Indian Numismatics Arthaśāstra aśvamedha Bactria Brahmi bull Bust Calcutta Candragupta cast coins century BC coin type coinage coins bear coins were issued copper copper coins cowries currency debased Delhi denominations Die-striking Gold Die-striking Silver die-struck dināra drachm drammas dynasty elephant empire Eucratides fabric Five symbols Gāndhāra gold and silver gold coins grains hoard Hūņas Ibid Indian coinage Indian Coins Indo-Greek Indo-Scythian inscription issued coins Janapada Janapada period Jātaka JNSI kārṣāpaṇa Kautilya king Kujula Kadphises Kumaragupta Kuṣāṇa Lakṣmi large number Magadha marked coins māṣa māṣaka mentioned metal minted money economy niśka Numismatics obverse Oesho pāda pana Pāṇini Post-Gupta Post-Mauryan period punch Punch-marked Silver Rajasthan refers region reverse Roman coins rulers Śaka Samudragupta satamāna Sātavāhana Satavahanas silver and copper silver coins silver punch-marked coins Śiva six-armed sixth century Skandagupta Śri suvarna Taxila trade tree in railing type of coins Ujjain uninscribed weight standard western Kṣatrapas Yaudheyas