Ancient Indian Coin and Their Technology

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About the Book The historical prospects of the numismatics lie with the universal scientific and Technological interpretation. The metals which form the backbone of civilization are the products of science of extraction from their ores for the various uses of mankind e g forming the metals into various shapes, preparation of alloys, thermal treatment of metals and alloys in order to bring out certain desired physical mechanical properties, the authors of this book tries semi-derivative (Metallographic and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer) Metallurgical sis to show the gravity of archaec materials. It deals with the study of their internal structure and its correlation with the physical and mechanical properties. The silver coins, produced in ancient India by the purely indigenous process of impressing symbols by individual punches, determined weight, shape and size have been termed "Punch marked coin" they are found in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Ceylon. Nepal, Afghanistan and are conveniently divided into various series, classes, groups and varieties. Its scientific and technological aspects Viz . mode of manufactures, metal content and alloys, metrology etc have been made clear with the most important study of coins through metallographic Microscopic examination) which yields valuable metallurgical information i.e. grain, size, segregation. distribution and non-metallic inclusions- such as slag, sulphides etc. It also deals with the mechanical and thermal treatment. the micro-examination through naked eye or low magnification by zoom-microscope and micro-examination at high magnification by metallurgical microscope deals with the segregation of impurities, methods of fabrication- rolling, forging, welding, brazing, size of grains and presence of any heterogeneity, presence of inclusions- slag, sulphides etc. defects of manufactures; over- straining etc. Banaras Hindu university one of the global universities has contributed immensely to the growth and development of numismatic study in India at every stage. This is a seminal academic contribution interpreting the historical thoughts in relation to scientific as well as technological aspects. Directive thoughts of this book with a study of urgent course as a dissertation for the master degree holders related to the archaeology with semi-destructive application of archaeoc materials, (Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer, metallographic (micro-structure) and harden tests) have been demonstrated to work in the light of 11th - 12, century alchemy-text of the "Rasratna Samuchchaya" containing skillful metallurgical knowledge to reconstruct the systematic history of ancient metallurgy in India. This proposed work "Ancient Indian coin and their Technology" by Dr. Bhagirathi Prasad, Dr. Devendra bahadur singh & Dr. Shailendra Kumar Singh will be a useful textbook for the students and Research Scholars in a modern scientific and Technological era of the numismatic.

About the Author Dr.Bhagirathi Prasad (b. 1952) graduated in Science, Post graduate in A.I.H.C& Archaeology, again graduated in Library Science from B.H.U. He started his career from I.T. Uni Library in 1976 and presently (since July, 2010) in the Department of Metallurgical Engineering working on the post of Professional Assistant. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 1998. He has published a Book entitled History of Science and Technology' in 2006 and contributed several articles in this area which were published in the Journal of Numismatic society of India and this book entitled "Ancient Indian Coin and their Technology" is expected to give and exciting direction in the reconstruction of Ancient Indian Metal Technology for the younger generation and meet the research gulf between the Archaeologist and Metallurgist together with the Forth coming books entitled "Puratatva" (In Hindi) and 'Ancient Indian coinage" of the author. In the absence of literary facts of thoughts one of the backbone cultural relics (coins) of Indus, named our country "BHARAT" now in interdisciplinary environment requires a metallurgical attention for the archaeologists. This work in the direction of Kautilya’s energy saving alloy of the earliest punch marked coins (600 B.C. to 3-4th Century A.D.) produced a broad cultural, social, political, economic as well as skillful metallurgical views.

Dr. Devendra bahadur singh (born in 1978, chandauli U.P.) at present working as Assistant curator in the Bharat Kala Bhavan, Banaras Hindu University Varanasi. He graduated in Art, post graduated in Ancient Indian History culture & Archaeology and Post graduate diploma in Archaeology & Museology. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 2009. He specializes in the field of Numismatics and Archaeology. He has been published one Book "Prachin Bharat Mein Vinimay Pranali". and one Monograph "Guptakal Mein Sikkon ki Jalsaji Evam Sanche". About two dozen research papers and Articles presented by him, have been published in various National And International Journals. He is member of executive council of the Numismatic society of India, B.H.U., Varanasi.

Preface Numismatics is a complete systematic science which treats with coins and medals undertaking the study of their.devices, inscriptions, fabrication, artistic merit, chronology in context and the metal composition. These coins and medals illustrate not only the events of history but they also show direct bearing on the mythological beliefs of the country. They, too, present the principal metallic substances. The early currency system of the ancient world is broadly divisible into two classes-1. Greek; and 2. Oriental.

The oriental coinages covers early Persian and Indian coinages. In Iran, the monetary system was initiated by Darius I (Hus taspis) about the time when he organized the empire in SATRAPIS (516 B.C.) and established his commercial relation with LYDIA.

The early Greek coinages characterize four stages. Of them-Period I-(702-480 B.C.) is of the Archaic art exhibiting rude style, gradually de-fined forms which are distinguishable by their angularity and stiffness from the fine work of later time. On the obverse the eyes are shown in profile, front of mouth wears a fixed and formal smile and reverse-incuse square. The Period II (480-415 B.C.) represents a great advance in technical skill; dies were engraved. Period III (415-336 B.C.) developed the fine art. Now, on the obverse, ideal heads of divinities are often put. The re-verse bears mythological figures or Agonistic types representing local games and religious festivals. Period IV (336-280 B.C.) is of the later fine art marked by the age of Alexander. His money superseded the autonomous coinage of small states.

In India the silver punchmarked coins are the earliest. This money is one of the most abundant coinages of orient. These coins are found all over the country generally in hoards. Sometimes they contain the Indo-Greek coins in the north and the Roman coins in the south. Further, Among these silver punchmarked coins the specimens of the thin fabrics are generally known from North India while, those which are of thick fabrics are found spread all over the country. The copper punchmarked coins were inducted later, out from a rolled sheet of metal or hammered globules.

Introduction In ancient time, India (Bharat) was named after the sovereign king 'BHARAT' (Manu)' the son of Risabhadeva and the Grandson of Nabhi.2 According to the Puranic cosmology, Bharatavarsha or Haimvatavarsa3 (Greater India) was divided into nava khandas or nine divisions separated by seas which were as follows : Indradvipa (Andaman), Nagadvipa (Nicobar), Varuna (Sumatra), Gandharvs (Philippines), Saumya (Borneo), Keseruman (Celebese), Gabhastiman (Malacca island), Tamaraparni (Ceylon) and Kumarika (from Cape Comorin to the Kashmir known as India4). Kumarika represented Indian peninsula and the other countries and islands enurled it. As such they were the divisions of the Greater India.

The physical features of Ancient India may be broadly devided into following categories:-

INDUS REGIONS

In the north west regions, the Hindu Kush mountains which run from the Pamirs in a south westerly direction, was the natural boundary of India. The south-western portion of this range is now included in Afghanistan. In its south there are the Safed Koh, Sulaiman and Khirthar mountains which are separated by the Table land of Iran. The south and the eastern terrains of the Hindu Kush, for long, both culturally and politically were the parts of India. Of its two principal rivers systems of our country i.e. Indus and Ganges, the former rising in the Tibetan plateau runs in the north-west and west of the subcontinent between the great Karakoram range and the Himalayas. Its tributaries are Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Satlaj. Kashmir is watered by the Jhelum. Himanchala Pradesh and Punjab are drained by the upper reaches of the Beas and Satlaj. This river system irrigates and renders fertility.

GANGETIC PLAINS

In the north is Nepal. In the north-east, the Himalayas comprises a series of ranges which form the mountain wall separating India from Burma. The tract near the Gangetic plain known as the Terai is very low and is covered with marshes and coarse tall grass and its mountains are occupies with forest.

**Contents and Sample Pages**