The Dawn of Indian Coinage[A write-up on

Jee Francis Therattil

The Dawn of Indian Coinageup on the completed monograph]

Jee Francis Therattil

The Dawn of Indian Coinage onograph]

Title of the work: THE DAWN OF INDIAN COINAGE.

[Completed monograph]

Name of the author: Jee Francis Therattil.

[Name <> Father’s name <> Family name]

Contact numbers: Land phone [res]: 2436879

[from outside Thiruvananthapuram, prefix 0 471]

[from outside India, prefix 00 91 471]

Cell Phone: 9526 955 900

[from outside Kerala, prefix 0]

[from outside India, prefix 0091]

Cell Phone: 050 7507 191

[from outside UAE: 00971 50 7507 191 ]

E-mail: jeefrancis@gmail.com

Facebook: Jee Francis Therattil

Scribd: jeefrancis

Author:

A third-generation numismatist. Possesses an exceptional collection of ancient and old

coins, which was started by grandfather, Mr. Therattil Paulose George, and got embellished by

father Mr. Therattil George Francis. At present, this collection is acclaimed as one of the best in

the field of Kerala Numismatics, which includes several published unique pieces.

Ex. Hon. Secretary of Kerala Philatelic and Numismatic Association.

Founder Hon. Secretary of Numismatic Research Society of Kerala - NUREACH.

Life Member of Numismatic Society of India and South Indian Numismatic Society.

About a dozen research papers in the credit:

01. ‘On a Rare Chera Coin’ - the first research paper - presented at the 81st Annual

Conference of the Numismatic Society of India, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, on a rare

14th century coin issued by Venād previously attributed to Pāndyas by scholars like Sir. Walter

Elliot, the Father of South Indian Numismatics. Unanimously got accepted and was awarded a

Tāmrapatra for it. Paper got published in the Society’s journal of 1995.

02. ‘Coin of Gōda Varma Identified’ - deciphered the Vattezhuthu script in the coin and thus

attributed to the ruler of Venād in the 12th Century, making it the oldest known coin of Venād.

Paper got published in the journal of the Numismatic Society of India, volume LVIII [1996].

03. ‘A New Silver Coin of Gōda Ravi’ - deciphered the Nāgari script in the coin and thus

attributed to the ruler of Venād in the 12th Century. Paper got published in the journal of the

South Indian Numismatic Society, volume VIII [1998]. Findings got appreciated by Dr. M.G.S.

Narayanan, previously Director of Indian Council for Historical Research.

04. ‘An Unique Padmanābha Type Coin of Venād’ - got identified and reported for the first

time. An exhaustive study on Padmanābha type of coins and the derived TWT theory remains un-

questioned by anybody till now. Noted and appreciated by the experts officially at the venue

itself. Paper got published in the journal of the South Indian Numismatic Society, volume XI in

2001.

05. ‘Dot-codes in Battle-axe type Venād Chera Coins’ - a detailed study on the dot-codes

appearing on the Venād Chera coins. The topic brought forth for the first time. Paper got

published in the journal of the South Indian Numismatic Society, volume XII [2002].

06. ‘Re-examination of a Punch-marked Coin’ - a study on a 3rd / 2nd century BC coin on

which a research paper was already published. Could convincingly prove that the previous

attribution was baseless by identifying the punch marks on it correctly and by logically

interpreting other peculiarities of the coin. Paper created far-reaching impact as the coin was

previously acclaimed as the only surviving specimen representing Ay dynasty. Paper got

published in the journal of the South Indian Numismatic Society, volume XVI [2006].

07. ‘A Chera Authenticated Punch Marked Coin’ - a study on a 4th / 3rd century BC coin on

which two research papers were already published. Could correctly identify the punch marks on

it and shed more light on the coin. Paper got published in the same journal of the South Indian

Numismatic Society, volume XVI [2006], making this particular volume of journal having two

research papers by the same person.

08. ‘An Early Chera Copper Coin with a Legend’ - a study on a coin dating back to the

beginning of the Christian era, having marks with a Tamil-Brahmi script-like appearance. The

ambiguity in the reading attracted responses from the leading experts in India like Dr. P.V.

Parabrahma Shastri, Shri Iravatham Mahadevan and Dr. R. Krishnamurthy. Paper got published

in the journal of the South Indian Numismatic Society, volume XVII [2007].

09. ‘Standing Garuda on the Tortoise Type Padmanābha Coin’ - a study on a peculiar coin

which is the only one of its kind known in India. The symbols on it were taken for a close study

and the observations and interpretations were accepted as such. Paper got published in the journal

of the South Indian Numismatic Society, volume XVIII [2008].

10. ‘Unpublished Portuguese Quarter Bazarucos from Kochi Mint’ - a study on a coin which

eventually got confirmed as the smallest one among the issues by the Portuguese. This study also

brought to light several facts like that Kāshu was prevalent in Kochi even before the Portuguese

period and the strategies the Portuguese had taken while introducing their own monetary system

in the region. Paper got published in the same journal of the South Indian Numismatic Society,

volume XVIII in 2008, making the journal again having two research papers by the same person.

Another notable thing is that the same journal had in it a research paper [stating my name

in the main body] ascertaining the accuracy of the description [which I made in a research paper

a decade ago] of the symbols and the script on a coin.

11. ‘Kāyamkulam Kāshu’ - a paper interpreting the characteristics of a previously unidentified

coin and its attribution to the Kāyamkulam rulers of whom no coinage is known before. The

paper got unanimously accepted [on 20th January 2008 at the annual conference of the South

Indian Numismatic Society] and the same is included in the volume - X1X [2009] of their journal.

12. Presented and got certified a paper, ‘Kerala - The Egyptian Connection’ at the National

Seminar on Recent Advances in Indian Archaeological Studies organized jointly by Department of

Archaeology, University of Kerala and Archaeological Survey of India [on 20th February 2008 at

Thiruvananthapuram], discussing the coin of Ptolemy II [Philadelphos], the ruler of Egypt [285 -

246 BC], found from Thiruvananthapuram.

All the papers belonging to the period [# 5 - 8] figures among ‘outstanding

contributions’ in ‘A Survey of Numismatic Research, 2002 - 2007’ [article #

125 -128, page 525] published by the International Association of Professional

Numismatists and released in the XIV International Numismatic Congress

[2009] held at Glasgow, Scotland.

Tech specs of the monogram:

Set in Microsoft Office 2007 [compatible with Microsoft Office 2000 – 2003]. Paper size:

A4. Margins: top and bottom: 5 cm; left and right: 3.25 cm. Margins selected so as to present

lengthy equations neatly in the same line [resetting of margins or page size will deform the

critical layout of graphics]. No. of pages: app. 100.

About the compilation of the work:

Work can be best described as a Navādhyāyi - ‘THE NINE-CHAPTERED’ as well as ‘THE

ONE WHICH OPENS A NEW CHAPTER’ [in the field of Indian Numismatics].

As the title suggests, work deals with the origin of coined money in Indian sub-continent

in nine sections. The topic is a hot one with a lot of people coming forth [in their articles] with

biased interpretations so as to establish that the origin of coined money happened in India. In that

endeavor, realities got suppressed and the valuable citations we have from contemporary contexts

are left without any consideration. This has paved the way to the enthusiasts understand the topic

in an unrealistic form. This work is a humble effort to consider several citations on the topic in

the original context and to impart clarity on the subject through the hitherto neglected or

unconsidered citations. Almost all the prevailing assumptions are found shaken at their roots.

The presentation is in such a way that anybody, either one who is new to the field or the

most advanced scholar could understand the matter completely without much difficulty. This

topic is not just confined to a single discipline. In addition to Numismatists, it will be a prized

work also for anybody bothered with the history not just of the sub-continent; but also with the

continent of Asia or even the then known world as such. The contacts, mahājanapadhas had with

powers outside the sub-continent are discussed in detail compiling all the possible supporting

evidences, without which the main topic cannot be discussed properly.

While providing proofs, utmost care is taken to depend only on primary sources, in order

to avoid accidental adoption of any sort of misinterpretations and misunderstandings. The

citations are provided as such, so that reader can evaluate by themselves on the authenticity and

accuracy of the derived conclusions.

Even though most of the interpretations are fresh and found contrary to the existing

beliefs, care is taken not to harass the previous interpreters. Credits are provided with due respect,

to the authors, when their genuine assumptions are found in tally with my conclusions.

Chapter 1 - The Beginning:

Here the history of India from the very early days of its civilisation is discussed as a

context so as to create an idea for where to start search for the proof for the very beginning of the

coinage of the region. Possibility of coined money in the Indus Valley Civilisation period is

considered with the help of excavated weight standards and other artifacts of which many

scholars had conducted studies. Then, the citations in Rgveda regarding some terms which were

considered as of worth observing in this context are discussed.

The ‘Indian gold’ cited in Antigone of Sophocles is a usage which attracted the attention

of many scholars in the field. To evaluate this citation, it was found necessary to describe the

India of those times, which leads to the next chapter.

Chapter 2 – The India of Those Times:

The original citations from many sources including the inscriptions of Achaemenids and

The Histories of Herodotus are discussed in detail to come in to an understanding of what India

was in those days. The independent decipherment of a script in Hieroglyphics and with that, the

identification of the person depicted on the statue of Darius the Great is there among other

inscriptions considered in understanding the India of those times.

The Inscriptions and other citations are discussed in detail and that leads to the conclusion

that ‘India’ was not in a position to issue gold coins at that time. A proper context and a justifiable

explanation are provided at the end of this chapter on the citation of Sophocles, clearing the

disputes on that matter.

Chapter 3 – Terminology:

Now we start understanding what the terms related with numismatics cited in the literary

works of the period denote. The original citations are quoted and the terms are discussed one by

one in detail. The main classics now at our help are Ashtādhyāyi, Manusmrthi and Vishnusmrthi.

The relationship between the terms are sorted out and tabulated so that the terms become

clear out of milky water. The parallel citations of the same terms both inside and outside the sub-

continent are gathered and provided for comparison to impart the reality that the terms are not of

having an isolated entity. By the end of this chapter the reader will get the picture with a wider

perspective.

Chapter 4 – Metrology:

Now we start bothering about the actual weights each term represented in those times.

The way how metrology got started and evolved in human history is discussed, so as to impart the

context and relevance of the terms which we have met with in the previous chapter. This also

provides the reader on how to look at the terms we have already come across.

Many dead-ends are met with while finding the actual weights those terms represented,

and the discussion forces to look at similar references outside Indian sub-continent to come to a

conclusion. The original weight standards of Darius the Great provides us with the much needed

‘break’ and now we are equipped with a ‘clue’ to proceed further.

The conventional calculations were found baseless and we could now get the accurate

gram equivalent of the terms we were discussing about.

Chapter 5 – The Weight System:

Here the different weight systems are discussed and the contexts in which different

systems are adopted. It is found that different weight systems are adopted for measuring different

things.

Now it becomes clear what Mana and Shathamāna mean and the historical evolution of

the terms. It is for the first time a justifiable explanation on Shathamāna is brought forward. The

guesses and assumptions prevailing now were found to be far away from reality.

Now the information we have regarding weight system is enough to proceed further in

understanding monetary system. But the terms are appearing to be not related in the way it was

thought to be. So care was taken to make one understand the monetary system in detail.

Chapter 6 – The Persian Monetary System:

To understand the Indian monetary system properly, it was found necessary to explain the

Persian monetary system. The weight standards of Daric and Siglos are found on the basis of their

actual relationship, for which we have to understand the ratio of the intrinsic value of metals used

in minting those coins. Reference in Histories was taken, but found inaccurate in the light of the

Daric weight standards discovered.

Now we could find in present units, the value of the tribute India used to pay annually to

the Persian ‘King of Kings’.

The reason behind payment in gold by India, rather than in silver as any other satrapies, is

also found. Now it is time to discuss the Indian monetary system.

Chapter 7 – The Indian Monetary System:

Now we are entering in to the core of the matter. The coins we could recover through

excavations are explained in the light of the weight standard we found earlier. The wrong

attribution of the coins to the satrapies is noted at this point and the reason behind the

reattribution is to be dealt with. For that, it is necessary to understand what Gāndhāra and India

represented in those days.

The entities are discussed in detail with the help of the known references of that period.

The weight standard of the coins is studied in detail and that provides the logic for attributing

coins to a particular satrapy and period.

It is now found that the weight standard of coins we could recover is not the same for all.

The different standards and the other salient features of different stages of coinage thus

distinguished are discussed in detail. The denominations actually prevailed and the names of the

denominations with accurate weight are found for the first time. The change in the weight

standard of the coinage of the same satrapy is also found out for the first time and the information

we could gather from these changes are also discussed in detail.

This also provides us the clue to the period in which the coinage started in that satrapy

and the junctures of evolution in the weight standard of coins. Magadhan coinage also is found

very much related with the satrapial coinages in India, and that matter is also clubbed with the

discussion with the coinage of the satrapies. The weight standard of the coins prevailed in

Magadha during the time when Rajgir was the capital is also ascertained for the first time and the

extent of the circulation of coins outside the region of its origin is also discussed properly. Weight

standard of Māshaka is also discussed in detail and the reason behind its appearance in the coin

hoard from Taxila.

The relation between the Magadhan coinages before and after the shifting of its capital

from Rajgir to Patna is also discussed in detail.

The purity of the metals used in different coinages and the reason for the appearance and

disappearance of certain denominations in copper and silver are also dealt with. The economic

scenario in the different mahājanapadhas is also dealt with, and the shift of concentration in the

volume of trade and the principal source of the merchandise is also dealt with.

Chapter 8 – Symbols:

The symbols found in the coins, the relevance, the adoption, evolution and its adoption by

different mahājanapadhas are discussed in detail for the first time. The identification of what the

six-armed symbol represents is altogether an achievement the attempt of which itself is a new

thing unheard of.

The different symbols in different coinages, their relevance and sequence etc. are also

dealt with in detail. Coins from totally different regions are found related with the Indian coinage

and that aspect is also described with enough photographs and other graphics.

Chapter 9- Conclusion:

The points found and described in the previous chapters are arranged in an order and the

resultant picture is dealt with in more detail. Now the minting techniques are also considered and

how it can be adopted for distinguishing coinages are also discussed with the help of graphics. The

die and anvil characteristics of each coinage are also dealt separately. The electrum coin which

can be safely attributed to Magadha is also subjected to a thorough study for the first time.

Anybody who arrives at this point after going through all the previous chapters in that

order is guaranteed to absorb for the very first time, the realistic image of what Indian coinage

was at its infancy. Almost all the topics are discussed and conclusions are arrived at for the first

time and this is the true relevance of this unique work.