CURRENCY

                      As the coins were made by hammering by hand, though they bore some stamp, they were of different sizes. They were not of same shape. But as coins came into circulation they were of great help to traders who roamed from village to village in those days. In each village they used to give coins and did transaction with businessman or his establishment to guarantee the purity and the weight of these coins, the sign of that businessman or establishment was stamped on each coin. Looking at the stamp, dealing took place in faith.

                      Among the ancient cions, a silver coin was known as ‘Shataman’. Ponimi has mention in his ‘Ashtya duyayi’ the coins known as Rupya, Karshapan and Kishk. In Jatak Kathas also mention of coins Nishk, Shatman, Krushnal, Suvarna and Karshapan is made. But twise ancient coins did not bear only mark and made of crude bars of metals. It is mentioned in the beginning that the coin Karshapan was made of copper. But during the later period, it is mentioned at many places that coins, made of silver were also called Karshapan.

                      The process of preparing coins is known as stamping . In this process the menta was heated and when it became soft, the necessary design or letters were stamped on them by applying pressure. Such coins belong to 400 B.C. period. The coins had designs of Badhivruksha, Swastik, lion, elephant etc on one or both sides. The coins were stamped on both sides simultaneously by holding the piece of metal between two stamps. Kumind, audumber, Youdhey city states etc had minted such beautiful found coins which have been discovered.


                        Researchers discovered various coins belonging to different periods during excavation. Similarly many coins were found in private collection Of persons. Some ancient coins bear the inscription in one of the scripts including Brahmi, Sanskrit, Prakut and Unani. The intelligent persons and researchers came to known about many Indian scripts through the alphabets on the coins. The alphabets of Unani and Kharostithi scripts can be prepared by the archeologists with the help of coins minted by foreigh kings. The researchers can also gain knowledge of Brahmi and Kharostithi scripts after studying the alphabets inseribed on these coins.