Indian Antiquary Vol 21

SR No.: 032513
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 17 MB

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348
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
NOVEMBER, 1892.
ruled simultaneously with the Thakuri dynasty, of Buddha (page 3). On page 20 the statement whereas Dr. Bühler, interpreting differently the is repeated in the form that "Buddha's death is dates of certain inscriptions, holds that the placed in the middle of the sixth century B. C." Lichchhavi dynasty ended after A. D. 634, and
The observations on the derivation of the term was succeeded about A. D. 640 by the Thakuri
tanka in pages 24-26 will hardly command general dynasty, founded by Thakur Améuvarman.
acceptance. The date 84 (page 37) for the HashtThe coins, which are all copper, ranging in nagar inscription appears to be incorrect. I think weight from 95 to 250 grains, bear the names of it may safely be asserted that the date is vither Mananka, Gunůnka, Vaisravana, Ambuvarman, 274 or 284, as read by Dr. Bühler, and originally Jishnuyupta, and Pasupati. Three of these by Sir A. Canningham. coins had long ago been published by Prinsep
On page 49 the small gold coins of Southern and Sir A. Cunningham, and several of the types
India, known by the name of hun, are said to were published by Dr. Hoernle and myself for the
average 52 grains, the weight being adjusted to first time in 1887 (Proc. A. S. Bengal), amended
that of the kalanju seed, which is "over 50 readings being given in the saine.periodical for
grains." On page 51 the húns are said to have the following year. The coins then described were
been "intended for half dinárs of the Roman from a find presented to me by Dr. Gimlette, and
standard"; and, on the same page, the hain is are now divided between the Asiatic Society of
declared to be “the original gold karsha of 57.6 Bengal, Dr. Hoernle, and myself. Colonel Warren's
grains, which has now dwindled down to 52 and coins, some of which are figured and described by
hich are ngured and described by 53 grains," and ten of the older húns are said Sir A. Cunningham, have been recently acquired
to give an average of 55 grains. These statements, by the British Museum. The approximate date,
which are not altogether consistent, appear to A. D. 640, of Amsuvarman's coins is certain, but
require revision. I do not see how the weight of the dates and order of the other coins are far
the han can be derived from that of the kalanju from being settled. In fact the Nepal coinage
seed of "over 50 grains," a purely indigenous requires to be worked out in a separate mono
measure, and also be copied from the Roman graph before it can be satisfactorily treated in
dinár standard. brief. In describing the coins of Månańka and Guninka, Sir A. Cunningham transposes the
The citation of the legend of the purchase of terms obverse and reverse. There can be no the Jētavana garden to prove the antiquity of doubt that the side occupied by the seated god "square Indian coins (page 53) suggests the dess is, as in the Gupta coinage, properly denomi
criticism, first, that Sir A. Cunningham much nated the reverse.
antedates Buddha, secondly, that the representa
tions in the sculptures prove nothing as to the No one can be more grateful than I am to Sir
facts in the time of Buddha, but only indicate A. Cunningham for giving to numismatic students
what seemed to the sculptor a suitable way for the first intelligible guide-book to the numerous
representing a payment, and, thirdly, that early croups of miscellaneous early Indian coins, or can
square gold coins are not known to exist. The appreciate better the knowledge and learning legend illustrated by the sculpture refers to displayed in the small book under review. But it gold coins. is a reviewer's business to criticize, and I may be pardoned for pointing out some defects. M.
I am glad to see that Sir A. Cunningham has Ed. Drouin, when criticizing my work on the
ceased to use the values 1.75 grain and 140 grains Gupta coinage, complained with justice that
for the rati and suvarna respectively, and now
lises the much more correct values 18 and 144. the autotype figures in the plates are often un
The values 1.825 and 146 which I have employed satisfactory. The same criticism applies with much greater force to the plates in this work, the
in my publications, are perhaps more strictly coins figured being frequently much worn copper
correct, but 1.8 and 144 are sufficiently accurate, pieces, of which the photographs are necessarily
and form a very convenient basis for a table of very indistinct. In many instances the more
weights. expensive and troublesome process of engraving On page 53 the words 4 eight ratis, or 140 from drawings would have given far better results. grains," should be read - eighty ratis, or 144
grains." On the same page it is stated that the This review has run to such a length that it is
Jētavana story " will be found in the appendix," impossible to discuss the introductory sections of
but there is no appendix. the book, but a few dubious statements may be
V. A. SMITH. noted. Modern scholars do not generally accept Cheltenham, the date "from 600 to 543 B. C." for the lifetime 22 June 1892.